Grilled Eggplants with Cumin Yogurt Sauce

• Recipe by Mohammad Islam

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3. 1 tablespoon soy sauce
4. 1 teaspoon curry powder
5. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
6. Four 6-ounce Japanese eggplants, halved lengthwise
7. 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
8. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped basil
9. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
10. 1 garlic clove, minced
11. 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
12. Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Light a grill. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil with the lemon juice, soy sauce, curry powder and crushed red pepper. Put the eggplant halves on a rimmed baking sheet, cut sides up, and coat generously with the marinade. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the yogurt with the basil, cumin, garlic and lemon zest. Season the yogurt sauce with salt and pepper.
3. Grill the eggplants, cut sides down, over a medium fire, until they are lightly charred and tender, about 4 minutes per side. Serve the grilled eggplants with the yogurt sauce.