Roasted Eggplant and Harissa Mashup

Nosh food is a genre close to my heart. Small plates to be sampled with wine or cocktails is trendy. You could carry the concept over to lunch. A soup or salad and a plate of roasted eggplant, cooked slowly with spices and harissa? Sounds and tastes delicious. 

I grill thick slices of eggplant. The base starts with pale brown onion, garlic and tomato paste. Add some chopped prunes. Allow the base to saute low and slow. Add the roasted eggplant, harissa paste, a splash of champagne vinegar and some mint. Do as the title suggests...mash it well. Let the flavors develop as they cook. 

Heat triangles of garlic naan or pita. Scoop the mash up.



ROASTED EGGPLANT AND HARISSA MASHUP
Makes 2 scant cups
DF, GF, VN, WF, VG, EF


1 medium Eggplant
Olive Oil
1 large Onion 
4 Garlic cloves
2 heaped tablespoons Tomato paste
1/2 cup pitted Prunes
2 tablespoons Harissa paste
1/2 teaspoon Champagne Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Several grinds of Black Pepper
15 Mint leaves, slivered
Garlic Naan, Pita bread or Crackers


Cut eggplant into 1 inch thick slices.

Preheat an outdoor or indoor grill.

Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides.

Grill slices till soft and charred, flipping occasionally. 

Take them off the grill. Cool and chop into small dice.

Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet.

Chop onion into small dice and add to hot oil. Saute till pale brown. 

Peel and slice garlic and add to onions. Let garlic bloom for 30 seconds.

Add tomato paste to onion and stir well. Let the tomato paste saute for a few minutes.

Add prune to onions. 

Saute onion and tomatoes on a low flame for 30 minutes, scraping the pan often.

The tomato paste will thicken and change color to a deep maroon color as you saute. 

Add chopped eggplant, harissa paste, champagne vinegar, salt, pepper and mint leaves. 

Allow the eggplant to cook slowly on a low flame for 15 minutes.

Scrape into a bowl.

Garnish with mint leaves, along with warm naan or pita triangles.

My soup and eggplant lunch satisfies in umpteen ways. A fun mash that's uplifting! 

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