Smoked eggplant with fragrant spices

1 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 mediums Eggplants
1 tablespoon Coriander seeds
2 teaspoons Cumin seeds
1 teaspoon Turmeric
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
½ cup Peanut oil
1 large Onion, chopped
2 teaspoons Minced garlic
1 Or 2 Serrano chiles, minced
2 Tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon Garam masala (see note)
1 teaspoon Lemon juice
1 cup Coarsely chopped cilantro leaves

Directions

Place the eggplants directly over the gas burner, or grill over a wood fire. Cook on all sides until the skin is black and charred and the flesh feels soft when pierced with a fork.

Grind the coriander and cumin seeds, and mix with the turmeric, salt and red pepper on a small plate. Set near the stove.

Peel the eggplants, being sure to remove all the black, charred skin, and wipe them clean with wet hands. Squeeze out all the water.

Chop the eggplants coarsely and set aside.

Heat the oil in a heavy, shallow pan. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until it turns almost reddish brown, 10 or 12 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and cook until the mixture turns reddish brown, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan. Stir in the spices and green chiles and cook, stirring for about l0 seconds. Add the tomatoes and let the mixture simmer until the tomatoes form a sauce and oil separates from the sauce.

Stir in the eggplant and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the oil again separates from the sauce. Taste for salt, stir in the garam masala, lemon juice and cilantro.

Serve hot or cold with Indian bread as a side dish.

NOTE: Garam masala, a spice blend, may be purchased at Indian markets.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, 12/7/88.

Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; November 2 1992.

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