Romanian Sweet and Sour Eggplant

Amarante

Fri, Nov 06 2015, 8:08 am

Notes aren't mine. Susan Feniger has owned a series of very popular restaurants in Los Angeles. Notes are hers and not mine. Very Happy

Romanian Sweet and Sour Eggplant

Source: Susan Feniger's Street Food

MAKES 4 CUPS; SERVES 4 TO 6

There’s a very traditional dish made in home kitchens all throughout Romania and southeastern Europe that’s typically called “eggplant salad.” I toyed with different ways to highlight the key flavors of the original recipes, which seemed underplayed. I like to make a green salad with watercress, olive oil, and lemon, top it with a scoop of this sweet and sour eggplant, and serve it with a slice of toasted sourdough bread topped with goat cheese and roasted red peppers.

2 large eggplants (about 2 pounds)
3 tablespoons plus ½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
10 cloves garlic
2 bunches scallions, white and green parts, roughly chopped
½ bunch fresh Italian parsley leaves and small stems, roughly chopped (¼ cup)
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Canola oil
1 (14½-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped
¾ cup cider vinegar
½ cup packed dark brown sugar

1 Cut off and discard both ends of each eggplant, and cut them lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices. Lay the slices “out on a baking sheet, and sprinkle both sides with the 3 tablespoons salt. Set aside for 20 minutes so that the salt will draw out some of the water from the eggplant. Then pat the eggplant dry with a dish towel.

2 Put the olive oil, garlic, scallions, parsley, cayenne, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt in a food processor, and puree until a smooth paste forms (it will resemble pesto). Spread liberally all over both sides of the eggplant slices.

3 In a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons canola oil. Add enough eggplant slices to cover the bottom of the pan, and cook until they are browned on both sides and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the eggplant to a platter or plate. Repeat this process with the remaining eggplant slices, adding 2 tablespoons oil for each batch. Cut the cooked eggplant into 1-inch-wide strips.

4 In a saucepan set over medium heat, combine the tomatoes, vinegar, and brown sugar. Stew for 12 minutes or until the tomatoes begin breaking down. Add the eggplant strips and stir together. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until most of the liquid has been cooked off. Remove from the heat and serve, or chill. This dish may be served warm or cold