Langsung ke konten utama

Middle Eastern Eggplant Ratatouie



Rich and flavorful, this chunky low calorie Middle Eastern eggplant ratatouille makes a delicious side for a family dinner or an inviting appetizer for your next get together..

I love recipes from Middle Eastern countries like like Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Morocco,and Israel which are famous for their tasty eggplant dishes. This family recipe is a middle Eastern classic that is like a stew- tender, satisfying and easy to make.

The secret to the recipe is roasting , not frying, the eggplant and veggies. Roasting brings out the vegetable's natural sweetness, saves calories, and is easier on the digestion than frying.

This eggplant recipe is my version of one of my mother in laws authentic recipes that she brought with her from the old country. It is so versatile that we enjoy in a variety of ways:

  • Over Baptismal rice or cauliflower rice, 
  • Paired as a side dish with a bean dish, 
  • As a topping for an omelette ( really good) 
  • Or a cold or hot appetizer with crudites or gluten free crackers. 


The best part is that once you make it, you can keep it in the refrigerator and it use as a condiment to enhance any food.

My mother in law insists on using the long and thin Japanese eggplants for this recipe. Although many similar recipes call for the regular full round Italian type eggplant, we think the Japanese variety is more tender and less bitter than the regular eggplants. They are also easier to cut and have fewer seeds than the larger eggplants.

I was reminded of this family favorite when we recently had dinner in a Syrian restaurant. I had not made this recipe in a long time, so as soon as I saw it on the menu- I knew I wanted to order it. In addition, I ordered Tzaziki, majeedara , falafel and a Greek salad. My husband and I shared the Mezze type dishes and felt like we had a feast! Everything was naturally gluten free and vegetarian just the way I like it!

Author: Judee Algazi ( family recipe) @ Gluten Free A-Z Blog
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes roasting, 15 minutes simmering
Serves: 6 for appetizers

Ingredients: 

3 large Japanese eggplants/quartered and then quartered again
2 large orange or red pepper, cut into eighths
5 cloves of fresh garlic
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 teaspoon of Trader Joe's " 21 Salute" salt free herbal blend or similar type blend
Himalayan salt to taste
1 can of organic chopped tomatoes ( 15 ounces)
juice of half lime
Optional : red pepper flakes and cumin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Toss the chopped eggplant,chopped orange or red peppers, garlic , cherry tomatoes and olive oil  in a large mixing bowl Place the tossed veggies on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Bake at 400 degrees until vegetables are roasted and soft.
In a large skillet , add a can of chopped tomatoes-lime, and the grilled vegetables.
Cook for about 20 minutes stirring frequently. Add optional cumin and red pepper flakes if desired
Serve hot, room temperature, or cold ( side dish, spread on GF crackers, top an omelette, appetizer)






Komentar

Postingan populer dari blog ini

Another Falafel Cracker Recipe with Za'atar ( GF)

I know I made falafel crackers last week , but this is a totally different recipe. It's lighter and crispier than the previous recipe, so you might want to give these a try.  I had never made crackers before last week, but they are really fast, easy, and fun to make. A batch of these 50 crackers from start to finish took me under 30 minutes ( I didn't count the 15 minutes of chill time). In addition, they are gluten free, dairy free, egg free and delicious. We love falafel and it's interesting spices,  so naturally I knew we would love these tasty falafel flavored crisps. What makes them taste like falafel? The chick pea flour, the sesame seeds, the cumin, the turmeric, the coriander and the spice blend called za'atar. What is za'atar or zahtar? Za'atar is a prepared spice blend that is used in many Middle Eastern countries.Although the recipes might vary, Za'atar may be made of any of the following spices: ground thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, hyssop an...

What is warfarin ?

 Coumadin (01 Mg) [Extracted from the website of www.drugs.com] Warfarin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Warfarin reduces the formation of blood clots by blocking the formation of certain clotting factors. Warfarin is used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in veins and arteries. Warfarin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Warfarin Tablet (01 Mg) Important information about warfarin Warfarin can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use warfarin if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Never take a double dose of this medication or take it together with other products that contain warfarin or coumarin. You should not take warfarin if you have a bleeding or blood cell disorder, blood in your urine or stools, an infection of the lining of your heart, stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, recent or upcoming surgery, or if you need a spinal tap or spinal anesthesia (epidural). Warfarin may cau...

Falafel Crackers Anyone?

This is an interesting gluten free snack idea and entertaining idea !  Can you imagine crackers that taste like falafel! For those of you who have tasted falafel before, you know you are in for a treat. For those who have never had falafel, you will have to trust me on this one. I assure you that the recipe is truly flavorful and is reminiscent of falafel. I found this recipe on a blog called May I Have That Recipe - a delightful blog created by two sisters who post vegetarian, vegan, and kosher recipes. This recipe happens to be gluten free as well - as many of their recipes are; many of their other recipes can be easily adapted to be gluten free. The Flour There are different types of gluten free flours that you can use to make gluten free snacks. This recipe calls for G arbanzo bean flour  ( chick pea flour) which can be found online or in most health food stores or health food isles in the supermarkets. I like this Garbanzo bean flour :  Bob's Red Mill Garbanzo Bean F...