**Eggplant with Yogurt and Dill: A Culinary Journey Through Mediterranean Flavors**
Embark on a culinary adventure to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean with our tantalizing collection of eggplant recipes. Savor the smoky, tender flesh of eggplant, masterfully paired with the creamy tang of yogurt and the refreshing aroma of dill. Discover a symphony of flavors and textures in each dish, as eggplant takes center stage, absorbing the vibrant essence of its Mediterranean companions. From the classic Turkish _imam bayıldı_ to the vibrant Greek _melitzanosalata_, these recipes showcase the versatility and culinary prowess of this beloved vegetable. Prepare to indulge your senses and delight your palate with our curated selection of eggplant dishes, promising an unforgettable Mediterranean culinary escapade.
GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH YOGHURT SAUCE
This is adapted from a recipe by Karen Martini, a great Australian chef. Simple to make and so incredibly delicious. A "meaty" meat free dish for carnivores! I have noted where I strayed from the original recipe. This serves 3 to 4 as a light meal (accompanied with, for example, couscous), or 6 to 8 as a side.
Provided by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Time 15m
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Combine the Yoghurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside for the flavours to develop. The longer you leave it, the better it will taste.
- Use a potato peeler to peel "strips" off the eggplant vertically as per the photo below. If your potato peeler is not sharp enough or if the eggplant is on the soft side, you might need to do this with a small sharp knife.
- Cut the eggplant into 1.5cm / 2/3" thick rounds.
- Brush one side of each eggplant with olive oil. The more you use, the yummier it will be!
- Sprinkle the oiled side of the eggplant with salt and pepper.
- Heat a griddle pan (or BBQ) on medium high heat. (Note 5)
- Place the oiled side of each eggplant onto the pan and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until it gets deep char lines on it. While the first side is cooking, brush the other side of each eggplant with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Turn the eggplant and cook the other side until the eggplant is cooked through but still holding it's shape. The easy way to tell is to prod the centre - if you feel resistance, it needs to cook more.
- Remove the eggplant onto a serving plate and let it cool for a few minutes. Then spoon a dollop of the yoghurt sauce on each, and scatter with coriander/cilantro, mint, pomegranate seeds and chili. Drizzle with extra olive oil and serve with cheeks or wedges of lemon, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 521 g, Calories 317 kcal, Carbohydrate 34.1 g, Protein 9.2 g, Fat 18.3 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 4 mg, Sodium 210 mg, Fiber 15.6 g, Sugar 19.4 g
FARFALLE WITH EGGPLANT YOGURT SAUCE
Bowtie pasta is tossed with a fresh herbed-yogurt sauce and topped with roasted eggplant and tomatoes.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 40m
Yield 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Toss the eggplant with the oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, about 25 minutes. Add the tomatoes and continue to roast until the tomatoes begin to burst, 5 to 10 minutes more.
- Mash the anchovy and garlic to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt and transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in the yogurt, dill, some salt and few grinds of pepper.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the pasta along with 1 cup of the cooking water to add the yogurt sauce and toss to combine. Thin with more cooking water until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the roasted vegetables, basil and dill fronds.
SILKY EGGPLANT WITH ALMOND SALSA AND YOGURT
Eggplant that's silky-soft and bubbly-brown all over (rather than tough, oily or fossil-like) is a revelation - and, with just a little maneuvering, it's not that hard. You'll want to sear the eggplant slices in hot oil, cover them for a minute or two, until they're soft, and then add a touch more oil until they're beautifully golden. You could, of course, eat these rounds on their own (and you might!), but spicy almond salsa, cubes of salty, crispy halloumi, and a bed of garlicky yogurt make them a full meal (especially if have warmed pita for swiping everything up). While salting the eggplant slices before you cook isn't completely necessary, it will help draw out some of the vegetable's moisture, making it less prone to bitterness and oil saturation.
Provided by Sarah Jampel
Categories dinner, lunch, vegetables, main course
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Line a colander with paper towels or a clean dishcloth. Slice the eggplant into 3/4- to 1-inch rounds, place in the colander and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 20 to 30 minutes, until water beads on top of the eggplant.
- Meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce: In a medium bowl, mix the yogurt with the lemon juice, smashed garlic clove, 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the torn mint. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
- In a heavy pan with high sides over medium heat, toast the chopped almonds until golden brown and fragrant, 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Remove pan from the heat and transfer nuts to a medium bowl, then add the red-wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic clove and Fresno pepper. Mix and season with salt to taste.
- Set up a plate or cutting board lined with paper towels next to the stove. Wipe out the pan you were working with and heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Blot the moisture from the eggplant, and when the oil is hot, add the slices in a single layer (you'll probably have to work in batches). Cook until brown, then flip, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. While browning, as the eggplant is getting dry, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil and cover the pan for 1 to 2 minutes. The eggplant will be fork-tender and golden brown on both sides when finished. Transfer to the paper towel-lined surface and sprinkle with salt.
- When you've finished cooking the eggplant, add the cubed cheese to the hot pan, leaving any residual oil (add a teaspoon of olive oil if there's not enough left in the pan). Sauté, stirring frequently, until brown and crisp all over. Remove pan from the heat.
- Spread the yogurt on a platter. Arrange the eggplant and halloumi on top, then scatter with almond salsa. Garnish with remaining torn mint, then sprinkle with any leftover lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Serve with pita.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 704, UnsaturatedFat 34 grams, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 55 grams, Fiber 16 grams, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 1337 milligrams, Sugar 17 grams, TransFat 1 gram
EGGPLANT WITH HERBS AND YOGURT
Martha prefers cooking with smaller eggplants -- they're sweeter, have fewer seeds, and don't have to be salted before cooking. Here, they're topped with yogurt, a spicy herb sauce, and a colorful garnish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Lunch Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat broiler with rack 6 inches from heating element. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat 2 inches safflower oil to 360 degrees. Working in batches, add eggplant and cook, turning once, until golden brown and very tender, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and let drain.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine parsley, cilantro, turmeric, garlic, chile, and olive oil. Season with salt, then blend until finely chopped. Place eggplants cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt. Brush with herb mixture and broil until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine yogurt and lime zest and season with salt.
- Serve eggplants garnished with yogurt mixture, sliced chile, lime wedges, sesame seeds, and pomegranate seeds.
ROASTED-EGGPLANT DIP WITH GREEK YOGURT
This roasted-eggplant dip, made silky by the addition of yogurt, arrives alongside crisp, Herb-Rubbed Pitas for easy scooping.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Yield Makes 2 1/2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Using tongs, cook eggplants one at a time over the flame of a gas burner (or a grill), turning as skin chars and bubbles, until completely soft, about 15 minutes. (If eggplant doesn't soften, finish cooking on a baking sheet in a 375-degree oven.) Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Peel off charred skin and discard. Coarsely chop the eggplants, and place in a colander to drain, about 1 hour. Finely chop, and transfer to a bowl.
- Using a chef's knife, press flat side of blade back and forth across garlic and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to make a paste. Mix into eggplant. Stir in oil. Mix in yogurt and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. (Dip can be refrigerated, for up to 1 day.) Drizzle with oil before serving.
EGGPLANT SALAD WITH DILL AND GARLIC
Steps:
- In several large colanders set over bowls, toss eggplant cubes with salt. Let stand 1 hour to drain.
- Meanwhile, using tongs or long-handled fork, hold peppers over open flame, turning until blackened on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, on rack of broiler pan under preheated broiler about 2 inches from heat, broil peppers, turning every 5 minutes, until skins are blistered and charred, 15 to 25 minutes.) Transfer to large bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand 15 minutes. Peel, seed, and dice.
- Rinse eggplant under cold water and blot dry with paper towels. In large heavy skillet over moderately high heat, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Working in 3 batches and using 3 tablespoons oil for each batch, sauté eggplant and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- Transfer eggplant and garlic to large bowl. Add peppers, dill, vinegar, and sugar and toss to combine. Chill overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature, accompanied by matzoh.
SMOKY EGGPLANT SALAD WITH YOGURT AND MINT
This tart Turkish-style salad is meant to be served with triangles of warm pita or other flatbread for dipping. At the market, choose eggplants that are firm and shiny; they will taste sweeter and have fewer seeds. Make the salad several hours or up to a day in advance. Pomegranate molasses can be found at Middle Eastern groceries.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories snack, dips and spreads, appetizer
Time 40m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the whole eggplants on a barbecue grate over hot coals. Turning frequently, cook until the skin is completely blackened and charred and eggplants begin to soften and collapse, about 10 minutes. Alternatively cook them directly on a stovetop burner or under the broiler. Set aside to cool.
- Cut eggplants in quarters top to bottom and carefully separate the flesh from the skin with a spoon or paring knife. Discard the charred skin. Chop flesh roughly with a large knife or in a food processor and put it in a fine-meshed sieve to drain excess liquid.
- Transfer eggplants to a mixing bowl. Add salt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, yogurt and dried mint. Mix well, then set aside to rest for a few minutes. Check seasoning and adjust.
- Put mixture in a low serving bowl. Drizzle with pomegranate molasses, if using, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with chopped mint and parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 40, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 245 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
Tips:
- Eggplant is more digestible when cooked; raw eggplant contains solanine, which can cause digestive upset.
- Cooking eggplant will reduce bitterness. If you prefer less bitterness, salt the eggplant slices and let them sit for 30 minutes before cooking. Then, rinse and pat dry.
- Choose yogurt that is full-fat and plain. Greek yogurt is a good option.
- Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. Dill is a classic herb to pair with eggplant, but you can also use parsley, basil, or oregano.
- Serve eggplant with yogurt and dill as a dip, spread, or sauce. It can be enjoyed with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or pita bread.
Conclusion:
Eggplant with yogurt and dill is a delicious and versatile dish; it's easy to make and can be enjoyed in various ways. The creamy yogurt and tangy dill complement the smoky eggplant flavor perfectly.
This dish is a great way to use up summer eggplant and a tasty appetizer or snack. Next time, try experimenting with different herbs or spices to create your unique variation of this classic dish.
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