Tags
diced tomatoes, dry chicken base, dry white wine, Eggplant, fennel bulb, garlic granules, herbs, olive oil, onion, parmesan rinds, parmigiano reggiano cheese, sour dough bread, sugar, tomatoe paste
We’ve done Eggplant Parmesan Soup, lo those many years ago, when we began this little adventure. I loved that version, but as you must be sick to death of hearing, The Goddess is a Being who enjoys change…and it just so happens she had some really nice fennel, ergo this version was born! Continue reading
I love eggplant…my favorite ways are usually the way the Asian use them. Salty, sweet with a crispy exterior and a creamy interior…but, then there’s baba ganoush. And the Brazilians serve it simply grilled, with maybe a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. Okay…so it really doesn’t matter in what cuisine the flavors lay, I’m there for eggplant! 
I love the idea of eggplant parmesan. But, the problem for me has always been the breading. It’s just too much. It overpowers the flavor of the eggplant and I like that flavor. So when I saw Grilled Eggplant Parmesan on the Food & Wine 
From time to time, one needs to “cook the pantry/fridge”. Things accumulate and are pushed to the back. So being in self-isolation, now and again, one needs to look deeply into the crevices that things slide into…like that box of partially used, dry falafel mix. It’s a challenge to use things in new and creative ways. That’s how this eggplant dish came to be. 
Caponata is incredibly delicious. It is the perfect end-of-the-summer-garden dish to prepare. This version “twisted” or “evolved”, as I was searching through the garden. Only it’s roots are traditional. Then it wanders. And it wanders into pretty, delicious territory. 
Vini da Arturo, in Venice, makes this incredibly simple, but delicious dish. It’s perfect for summer and it’s gets better the next day. Bring this to the next potluck BBQ. 
You know I adore eggplant. I don’t think I’ve ever met an eggplant dish I didn’t love. I’ve been thinking about stuffed eggplant, so I decided that today was the day. I was heading down the vegetarian path, adding lentils to give us that meaty texture. Then, I took another path…. 
This is a layered affair. If you aren’t familiar with Lebanese 7-Spice or Baharat, you might want to wander into a Middle Eastern market and pick some up. This blend uses the “sweet” spices, like allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. But, it’s wonderful in savory dishes. It lends itself particularly well to lamb and as it turns out, eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes. 
Every now and again, you happen on a dish that’s just perfect. This is that dish. It’s a positively delicious dish. It’s loaded with rich flavors and vivid colors. Though it’s absolutely best made when the garden is overflowing, it transcends seasons. And perhaps best of all, it goes together quickly and is even better made ahead and eaten at room temperature. 
I probably shouldn’t be calling this Sicilian Eggplant, since I’m not only not Sicilian, hell, I’m not even Italian. This may seem like it has non-Italian flavors, but we need to remember that the Moors “visited” Sicily for quite a number of years. Therefore, this has many of the flavors they left behind, after they moved on. You know, things like raisins, pistachios and cumin. It matters not what those flavors are, it’s still darned delicious. 