Middle Eastern Eggplant Dish (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
500g eggplants, cut into slices
02 -
2 tsp garlic, minced or grated finely
03 -
¼ cup tomato paste
04 -
½ tsp turmeric powder
05 -
1 tsp coriander powder
06 -
1 tsp cumin powder
07 -
¼ tsp chilli pepper
08 -
1 tbsp white vinegar
09 -
Sugar to taste
10 -
Salt to taste
11 -
Pepper to taste
12 -
3 tomatoes, sliced thin
13 -
1 onion, cut into thin slices
14 -
2 green chilies, chopped small
15 -
½ cup water
16 -
Vegetable oil
17 -
Pine nuts, to sprinkle on top
→ Yogurt Sauce
18 -
1 ½ cups plain yogurt
19 -
½ cup labneh
20 -
1 tbsp lemon juice
21 -
Lemon zest to taste
22 -
½ tsp garlic, finely minced
23 -
⅛ tsp dried dill
24 -
⅛ tsp dried mint
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat your oven or air fryer to 200°C. Cut eggplants lengthwise around 1.5cm thick. Add oil to both sides and cook in oven for 25-30 mins till soft and golden. For air fryer users, cook about 15-20 mins till golden. Take them out and put aside when done.
02 -
Pour 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook garlic till it smells good. Throw in tomato paste and cook 2 mins. Add your spices - turmeric, coriander, cumin, chilli pepper - plus vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Let it cook a bit so flavors come together.
03 -
Put tomato slices, onions, your cooked eggplant, green chili and water into the pan. Pop the lid on and let it bubble on medium heat for 15-20 mins, till tomatoes soften and sauce gets thicker.
04 -
Grab a bowl and mix yogurt, labneh, juice and zest from lemon, minced garlic, dried dill and mint. Add some salt and pepper. Stir everything together well.
05 -
Spread lots of yogurt mix on a big serving plate. Carefully add the eggplant-tomato mixture over it, then top with more yogurt sauce. Scatter pine nuts and maybe some fresh herbs if you want.
06 -
You can eat it warm or room temp. It goes really well with naan, pita or any bread with a crunchy crust.
# Notes:
01 -
Borani comes from Middle Eastern tradition and always has yogurt with veggies.
02 -
Let it sit about 15 mins before eating so all the tasty flavors can mix together.