Best 3 Turkish Style Braised Eggplant Recipes

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Turkish Style Braised Eggplant, also known as "İmam Bayıldı", is a delectable dish that blends the flavors of tender eggplant, aromatic vegetables, and savory spices. This traditional Turkish dish, originating from the Ottoman Empire, is a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. The eggplant, a key ingredient in this dish, is carefully braised until it reaches a melt-in-your-mouth softness, while the other ingredients, such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic, provide a vibrant and flavorful backdrop. Embark on a culinary journey through this detailed guide to explore the secrets of creating the perfect Turkish Style Braised Eggplant, a dish that is not only visually appealing but also a culinary delight.

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TURKISH-STYLE BRAISED EGGPLANT



Turkish-Style Braised Eggplant image

Provided by John Willoughby

Categories     dinner, weekday, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 side-dish servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 large eggplant (about 1 pound)
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1 large tomato, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cumin
Black pepper
1/2 cup roughly chopped dill
2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley
Thick yogurt, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Trim ends off the eggplant. With a vegetable peeler, cut off alternating strips of skin. Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes, place in a colander over a large bowl and toss with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to 3 hours, rinse well and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible; do not break cubes up.
  • In a large skillet or saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the eggplant cubes and move them around occasionally, until they are rather tender and somewhat browned, about 7 minutes. Remove from the pan with tongs, leaving as much oil as possible in the pan. Set aside.
  • Add remaining oil to the pan with the onions and pine nuts and stir occasionally, until the onions are transparent and some pine nuts are lightly browned, 7 or 8 minutes.
  • Return eggplant to the pan with the tomato, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, cumin and pepper. Mix well, then turn heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the eggplant is very tender but still in distinct pieces, about 30 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring once or twice, until the liquid is somewhat thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from heat and let sit uncovered until it is at room temperature, about 45 minutes. Stir in the dill and parsley, adjust the seasonings to taste and serve, accompanied by yogurt and lemon wedges for squeezing.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 247, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 21 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 396 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams

TURKISH STYLE BRAISED EGGPLANT



Turkish Style Braised Eggplant image

This type of dish is traditionally served as a side dish after the main meat entree. You could also serve several similar dishes at once with some crusty bread or pita to sop up the sauces. Vegetables that are cooked by this method are rich and lush and delicate all at once. They are very different than vegetables boiled in water.

Provided by threeovens

Categories     Vegetable

Time 1h15m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 large eggplant (about 1 pound)
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1 large tomatoes, peeled cored and roughly chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cumin
fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
thick yogurt, for serving
lemon wedge, for serving

Steps:

  • Trim both ends off the eggplant, then use a vegetable peeler to peel alternating strips of the skin; dice eggplant into 1 inch cubes and toss with the salt in a colander for 30 minutes up to 3 hours.
  • Rinse the eggplant well and gently squeeze out as much liquid as possible leaving cubes whole.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil, over medium high heat in a large skillet; add eggplant and brown slightly, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes.
  • Remove eggplant with tongs and set aside, to leave as much oil as possible in the pan.
  • Add remaining oil to pan along with the onions and pine nuts; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and pine nuts are lightly browned, about 7 or 8 minutes.
  • Return eggplant to skillet with the tomato, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, cumin, and pepper; mix well, turn heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring once or twice, until the liquid has thickened a bit, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and let cool to room temperature, uncovered, about 45 minutes; stir in the dill and parsley, adjust seasonings and serve with yogurt and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 380.2, Fat 31.9, SaturatedFat 4.1, Sodium 1174.3, Carbohydrate 24.7, Fiber 7.2, Sugar 13.4, Protein 3.8

BRAISED EGGPLANT



Braised Eggplant image

Provided by Marian Burros

Categories     side dish

Time 25m

Yield 3 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/2 cup chopped green onion
2 large cloves garlic
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound eggplant
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Steps:

  • Chop green onion and put garlic through press; saute in hot oil for 2 minutes.
  • Peel and cut eggplant in 3-inch strips. Add to skillet in single layer and cook over high heat until lightly browned on both sides.
  • Add broth; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, until eggplant is tender.
  • Stir in soy sauce and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 147, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 258 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the right eggplant: Look for firm, shiny eggplants with smooth skin. Avoid eggplants that are bruised or have blemishes.
  • Salting the eggplant: Salting the eggplant helps to draw out the bitterness. Make sure to rinse the eggplant thoroughly after salting.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot: A heavy-bottomed pot will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the eggplant from burning.
  • Be patient: Simmering the eggplant takes time, but it's worth it. The longer you simmer the eggplant, the more tender and flavorful it will become.
  • Serve with your favorite sides: Turkish-style braised eggplant can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice, potatoes, or bread.

Conclusion:

Turkish-style braised eggplant is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. With its smoky flavor and tender texture, eggplant is a great choice for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Turkish-style braised eggplant a try. You won't be disappointed!

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