Cumin Scented Eggplant With Pomegranate And Cilantro Recipes

Steps:

• Start the preparation the day before serving. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Remove the stem end from each eggplant. Slice the eggplants on the bias into 1/2-inch thick ovals. Spread the slices on the baking sheet in a single layer and brush with olive oil. Bake the eggplants 12 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Using a spatula, transfer the slices, overlapping slightly, to a shallow serving dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, olive oil, and salt; blend well. Drizzle the sauce over the eggplant. Top with the mint, parsley and pomegranate seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until ready to serve. Can be refrigerated overnight, but is best served at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Grill the eggplant over the gas grill or prick and roast in a hot oven until it is extremely soft inside.
• When cool, split the eggplant open and gently scrape the seeds out, using a melon-baller or large spoon. Pull away the skin, drain the liquid, and chop the pulp in 1/2-inch cubes.
• Gently score the outer skin of the pomegranate into quarters. Place the entire pomegranate in a large bowl filled with water. With your hands under the water, gently pull the skin off and remove the seeds, which will fall to the bottom. Drain off the water, discard the outer skin and fiber, dab the seeds dry, and proceed. Reserve 1/4 cup of the seeds for garnish.
• Place the remaining seeds over a sieve and press out the juice with your hands. You should have approximately 1/4 cup juice. Discard the pulp and seeds.
• In a nonmetallic bowl, mix the eggplant with the pomegranate juice, tahina, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Adjust the amount of pomegranate juice and lemon to your taste. In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse the mixture until smooth but not mushy.
• Spread mixture on a flat suraface and sprinkle with chopped parsley and the reserved pomegranate seeds, dried cherries, or dried cranberries. Serve with pieces of warm pita for dipping.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil rimmed baking sheet; place eggplant halves, cut side down, on sheet. Roast eggplant until flesh is soft, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. Using spoon, scoop pulp from eggplant halves into medium bowl; mash. Discard skins.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add ginger and stir 1 minute. Add tomatoes and next 4 ingredients; sauté 5 minutes to blend flavors. Add eggplant and stir until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before serving.)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the eggplants in several places so they won't explode, place in a greased baking pan and bake until soft, almost to the point of collapse, 35 to 45 minutes. Cut in half, cool for 15 minutes or so and drain the juices. Remove the skin, finely chop the flesh and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and cumin, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and salt and pepper to taste. Cook gently for 20 minutes, or until moisture evaporates. Check for seasoning.

Steps:

• In a deep, wide skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned all over, about 8 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a large baking sheet to cool and repeat with the remaining olive oil and eggplant. Transfer to the baking sheet.
• Add the tomatoes, sumac, garlic and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over medium-low until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the eggplant, chickpeas, half the scallions, half the mint and 1/4 cup water. Let simmer until flavors meld, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more pomegranate molasses if you like. The eggplant mixture should be a little textural, chunky even, with an assertive, tangy finish.
• Divide the rice and eggplant mixture among wide, shallow bowls. Dollop with yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining scallions and mint, and serve with pita, if using.