Braised Eggplant with Garlic

This make-ahead Turkish vegetarian main dish gets robust flavor from onion, tomato, peppers, and lots of garlic.

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 30 mins
Yield:
6

Ingredients

  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped (2 cups)

  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped (1 cup)

  • 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 2 long green peppers, finely chopped

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • Kosher salt

  • Pepper

  • 6 Italian baby eggplants (2 1/2 pounds)

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the onions with the tomato, garlic, peppers, parsley, sugar and 2 teaspoons of salt. Using your hands, knead the mixture until it is softened and well blended.

  2. Peel the eggplants lengthwise at 1/2-inch intervals to create stripes. On one half of each eggplant, make 4 lengthwise slits halfway through the flesh. Rub the eggplants all over and in the slits with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

  3. Arrange the eggplants slit side up in an ovenproof baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Spoon the filling liberally into the slits; some will spill out. Drizzle the remaining 3/4 cup of olive oil over the eggplants and add 1/2 cup of water to the baking dish. Cover and bake for about 1 hour, until the eggplants are completely tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make Ahead

The finished dish can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Serve With

Country bread.

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