Eggplant (aubergine), not a common ingredient in traditional Mexican food, is now appearing in modern Mexican cuisine. Here it’s served with a sauce made with tomatillos and chipotle chillies in adobo sauce. Both are sold in cans and widely available where Mexican ingredients are sold. Slice some eggplants lengthwise into thin slices. Season with salt…… Continue reading eggplant mexican style
Tag: eggplant
sichuan braised eggplant
The province of Sichuan (Szechuan) in southwestern China has a bold, pungent and spicy cuisine. It’s known for it’s liberal use of garlic, chillies, vinegar and sichuan pepper. Here’s a great example of Sichuan braised eggplant from Serious Eats. Trim ¾ kg (1½ lbs) of small Asian eggplants and cut them into quarters lengthwise then into 10cm (4″) lengths. Pour…… Continue reading sichuan braised eggplant
dan dan noodles + cold dressed eggplant
In Sichuan (Szechuan) dan dan noodles or dandanmian is any dish served with a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables, mustard stems, chilli oil, Sichuan pepper and spring onions (scallions). This version, from Everything You Want To Know About Chinese Cooking by Pearl Kong, Tien Chi Chen & Rose Tseng, includes sesame paste, peanuts and dried shrimp and is served with a bowl of chicken…… Continue reading dan dan noodles + cold dressed eggplant
antipasti
Always impressive and popular as a first course, many antipasti can be prepared ahead of time. The olives pictured here are homegrown and the antipasti were served with crunchy homemade sourdough bread. The red peppers should be roasted or barbecued whole until the skins are charred. Place them in a sealed container or plastic bag and allow them to sweat…… Continue reading antipasti
lamb meatballs with eggplant and tomato + couscous with cauliflower
Here’s a hearty meal with North African and Middle Eastern influences. To make the meatballs combine lamb mince with finely chopped parsley, ground cumin and ground cinnamon to taste and season well with salt and pepper. Form into small meatballs and set aside in the fridge. Dice a large eggplant (aubergine) and fry gently in some…… Continue reading lamb meatballs with eggplant and tomato + couscous with cauliflower
quinoa and rice salad
This salad is adapted from a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe. First chop a large eggplant (aubergine) into pieces, season with salt and fry in a little olive oil. Set aside in a large salad bowl. Cook 200g (7 oz) of quinoa (I used a mixture of red, white and black quinoa and amaranth) in plenty of boiling…… Continue reading quinoa and rice salad
cooking class in Hoi An
Hoi An is a fishing town which lies at the centre of Vietnam. The ancient town remains untouched by war and despite it being a popular tourist destination it is a gem. The Red Bridge Cooking School has a well-deserved reputation for it’s cooking classes. Ours began with a walk around Hoi An’s central market…… Continue reading cooking class in Hoi An
two dips
Serve these middle eastern dips with bread or as side dishes. To make this Turkish-style zucchini (courgette) dip shred 900g (2lbs) of zucchinis. Sauté them in some olive oil over medium heat adding 1 tablespoon of dried mint and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Allow to cook until all the moisture has gone and then add…… Continue reading two dips
roast vegetable lasagna
A delicious layering of roast vegetables, pasta and fresh ricotta with napoli sauce and grated pecorino. For this lasagna I used eggplant (aubergine), pumpkin, onions, peppers, zucchini and fennel. Whichever vegetables you choose, cut them into thin slices and lay them on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and bake in…… Continue reading roast vegetable lasagna
eggplant and pepper salad
Eat this Italian style salad as a side dish with pasta or just have it for lunch with some bread and cheese. Cut 2 eggplants (aubergines) into wedges and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sweat for 30 minutes (to remove any bitterness) and then rinse and pat dry. Heat some olive oil in a…… Continue reading eggplant and pepper salad
michelle picker cooks 