SMOKY EGGPLANT SOUP
I am a fan of eggplant soup, and this one is a winner, creamy-textured and bright tasting. Charring the eggplant gives it a smoky flavor, but as opposed to some rustic versions, the soup has a smooth texture and a lovely pale color. It gets a good squeeze of lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of the Middle Eastern spice mixture za'atar, made with wild thyme and sesame, now widely available. Make sure to choose small, firm eggplants. Serve the soup chilled or hot, in small portions.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories easy, soups and stews, appetizer
Time 30m
Yield About 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Poke 2 or 3 holes in eggplants with a paring knife, then place on a baking sheet under hot broiler, about 2 inches from flame. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes, allowing skins to blacken and char. Turn and cook on other side until eggplants have softened completely, about 4 minutes more. Set aside to cool, then remove and discard skins and roughly chop eggplant flesh.
- Meanwhile, put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed stainless or enameled soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook until softened and beginning to color, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, cayenne and reserved eggplant and cook 1 minute more, then add broth and bring to a brisk simmer. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Check seasoning of broth and adjust salt.
- Purée soup in batches in blender. Strain through fine-meshed sieve and discard solid debris and seeds. Add 3 tablespoons lemon juice to puréed soup and taste again, adding more as necessary. Soup should be well seasoned and rather lemony.
- Mix lemon zest with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil for garnish. Ladle soup into small bowls, topping each bowl with 1 teaspoon lemon oil, 1/2 teaspoon za'atar and some chopped parsley. May be served hot or cold.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 173, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 1066 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams
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Kisakya Eva
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of eggplant, but I actually enjoyed this soup. The smokiness of the eggplant was really nice.
ABIFARIN GAZALI
[email protected]This soup was just okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special either.
Cedric Madonsela
[email protected]I'm not sure if I liked this soup. The smokiness of the eggplant was a bit overpowering.
Erica Rosado
[email protected]This soup was a bit too spicy for my taste. I think I'll use less cayenne pepper next time.
Asif Thaheem
[email protected]I'm not sure if I did something wrong, but my soup never thickened up. It stayed very thin.
Heather Oates
[email protected]This soup was a bit too thick for my taste. I think I'll add some more broth next time.
Farhan Jibon
[email protected]I found this soup to be a bit bland. I think I'll add some more spices next time.
akinola akinfiditi
[email protected]This soup was a bit too smoky for my taste. I think I'll try roasting the eggplant for a shorter amount of time next time.
Khethiwe Ndwandwe
[email protected]I'm not sure what went wrong, but my soup turned out bitter. I think I may have roasted the eggplant for too long.
Courtney Raymond
[email protected]This soup is a great way to impress your guests. It's sure to be a hit at your next dinner party.
Rashi Chandia
[email protected]I added a little bit of cayenne pepper to this soup to give it a bit of a kick. It turned out perfect!
Foyaz ullah
[email protected]This soup is so easy to make. I was able to throw it together in less than 30 minutes.
Callum Baillie
[email protected]I love that this soup is vegan. It's a healthy and delicious way to get my daily dose of vegetables.
Jannatul Bushra
[email protected]This soup is a great way to use up leftover eggplant. It's also a great make-ahead meal.
Parkland Therapy
[email protected]I was hesitant to try this recipe because I'm not a big fan of eggplant, but I'm so glad I did. The smokiness of the eggplant really makes this soup something special.
Kanaighat Bazar
[email protected]This soup is so flavorful and satisfying. It's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day.
Anthony Shuttle
[email protected]I've made this soup several times now and it's always a hit. My family loves the smoky flavor and the creamy texture.
Kierra Patton
[email protected]I love the simplicity of this recipe. It's easy to make and the results are always delicious.
Hummi Pari
[email protected]This smoky eggplant soup is a delicious and unique dish. The smokiness from the roasted eggplant and the sweetness from the tomatoes and red peppers create a perfect balance of flavors.