Fried Eggplant Recipe with Tomatoes
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
141 kcal
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Course
Side Dish
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Cuisine
Mediterranean, Turkish
Fried Eggplant Recipe with Tomatoes
Description
The recipe starts by slicing Italian eggplants into half-inch rounds, then salting them thoroughly to draw out bitter moisture. After a resting period of 45 minutes to an hour, the slices are patted dry and fried in olive oil until golden on both sides, absorbing less oil due to the salting step. Roma tomatoes are halved and quickly sautéed separately in olive oil, offering a sweet contrast in texture and flavor.
Thinly sliced garlic is fried with Aleppo pepper until crisp, lending a vibrant and mildly spicy accent to the dish. The fried eggplant is arranged on a serving platter topped with the garlic and pepper mixture. A cooling yogurt sauce made with plain yogurt, dried mint, and salt accompanies the dish, providing balance to the warm, savory components.
The frying method yields eggplant with tender centers and golden edges, while the tomato adds fresh juiciness. This combination can be served as a flavorful side or appetizer, with the yogurt sauce enhancing the overall freshness and mild heat from Aleppo pepper.
Salting the eggplant reduces bitterness and decreases the amount of oil absorbed in frying. Olive or avocado oil may be used for frying, depending on preference and availability. The fried eggplant can be frozen after cooling by placing slices in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in a pan with olive oil.
Ingredients
- 2 eggplant Italian variety
- 5 tbsp olive oil divided
- 4 Roma tomato
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped, fresh
Yogurt sauce
- 1 cup PLAIN yogurt
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried mint
Instructions
- Wash the eggplants and slice them into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and generously sprinkle with salt on both sides. Let the eggplant sit for 45 minutes to one hour to "sweat out" the bitter liquid.
- Pat dry the eggplants on both sides with kitchen paper towel. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a non stick pan over medium heat.
- Once the oil is shimmery, fry the eggplant slices for about 4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked. If your pan is small, fry the eggplants in batches.
- Take the eggplants out of the pan and place them on a kitchen towel to absorb the excess oil.
- Cut the roma tomatoes in half. Heat one tablespoon olive oil in the same pan.
- Fry the tomatoes for 2 minutes on each side. Set them aside.
- In a small pan, heat the remaining one tablespoon olive oil. Thinly slice the garlic cloves. Fry the garlic slices with Aleppo pepper until golden and crispy.
- Place the fried eggplants in a platter and top them with fried tomatoes and fried garlic.
- Serve with yogurt sauce.
Yogurt sauce
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Serve with fried eggplant.
Notes
- Salting the eggplant slices before frying removes bitterness and reduces oil absorption, resulting in a less greasy and more flavorful dish.
- Use olive oil or avocado oil for frying based on your preference and availability.
- After frying and cooling, eggplant slices can be frozen in freezer bags for up to three months.
- To reheat frozen eggplant, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and warm gently in a nonstick pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
- This recipe works well with various eggplant types such as globe or graffiti varieties.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 141 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 141kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 610mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 190mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 703IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 61mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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