MOROCCAN AUBERGINE ZAALOUK

Moroccan Aubergine Zaalouk image

In Morocco, this warm dish of eggplant and tomatoes tenderly cooked in select spices is usually served as a condiment (similar to how a classic Mexican salsa might be used) with a lots of sliced bread or a pile of big bread cubes to scoop up the delicious chunks of tomato and zucchini and plenty of that irresistible spicy sauce. ...

Provided by Vickie Parks

Categories Salsas

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 15

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Ingredients

2 lb eggplant
3 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cummin
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
2 cups chopped tomato
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (omit if you don't like cilantro, or you can replace it with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves)
3 1/3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
FOR SERVING
sliced deli bread or loaf of crusty bread cut into large chunks (to scoop up the sauce)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil on the parchment paper.
2. Peel the eggplant and slice lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Evenly arrange the eggplant slices on the parchment. (You may need a second parchment-lined baking sheet to accommodate extra eggplant slices.) Drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil over the eggplant slices, sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Roast in a oven for 35 minutes or until the eggplant is cooked and golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
3. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for around 30 seconds. Add the paprika, cumin, and hot pepper flakes and cook in the hot oil for 10 seconds. Then stir in the chopped tomatoes, water, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf, let the sauce simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Returning to the cooled eggplant, start chopping the eggplant slices into bite-sized cubes. Add the eggplant cubes to the sauté pan, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let it simmer for another 5 minutes. The eggplant should be tender and fully cooked, but it shouldn't be disintegrating and pieces of the eggplant flesh shouldn't be flaking off.
5. Remove pan from heat, and stir in the lemon juice and chopped cilantro. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings, if needed. Just before serving, drizzle about 1 tsp (or less) of olive oil in a random, thin line across the surface of the sauce. Serve hot or very warm with sliced bread or lots of bread chunks to scoop up the delicious Eggplant Zaalouk.