Harrissa- Roasted Eggplant

sam's café morocco

©2022

Authoradmin
DifficultyAdvanced

"it might not be Rick's Café Americana, but you won't need ~ letters of transport ~ to return"

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Yields4 Servings
Prep Time1 hrCook Time45 minsTotal Time1 hr 45 mins
 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
 1 packet Truvia
 1 lemonjuice from
 6 small cloves roasted garlicdiced and mashed
  cup hot harissa paste
 ½ cup capersdrained, divided
 ¾ cup extra-vigin olive oilPLUS 1 TABLESPOON
 kosher salt freshly ground black pepper
 2 tsp mesquite honey
 2 tbsp cherry preserves
 4 medium Japanese eggplants or 2 large globe eggplants (about 2 lb.)halved lengthwise
 1 lemonzest from
 3 tbsp coarsely chopped dill
1

Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 425°.

2

Mix yogurt, Truvia and lemon juice in a small bowl to combine seal and chill.

3

Blend garlic, harissa, honey, 4 Tbsp. capers, and ¾ cup oil in a blender until a loose paste forms (a few chunkier pieces are okay); season with salt (good amount) and pepper. Transfer ¼ cup paste to a small bowl and set aside.

4

4. Score cut sides of eggplant flesh in a crosshatch pattern, being sure to stop before cutting through the skin below. Rub 1 Tbsp. paste remaining in blender evenly over each cut side of eggplant so entire surface is covered. Toss remaining 4 Tbsp. capers and 1 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl until capers are coated.

5

Arrange eggplant, cut side up, on a foiled lined rimmed baking sheet, leaving a little room on one side for capers; season with salt and pepper. Spread out capers in oil in a single layer in reserved space on baking sheet; set bowl aside.

6

Roast eggplant and capers, keeping a close eye on capers, until capers are sizzling and slightly crisp, 9-11 minutes.

7

Remove baking sheet from oven and transfer capers back to reserved bowl. Return eggplant to oven and continue to roast until tender, 10–12 minutes more for Japanese, 20–25 (22 worked, shut oven off and cracked door for 5 minutes) for globe. Let eggplant cool slightly, then slice in half crosswise on a diagonal.

8

Mix cherry preserves and honey into reserved paste in bowl.

9

Arrange eggplant on a platter. Spoon (squirt bottles) lemon yogurt over eggplant, then drizzle (squirt bottles) harissa-cherry sauce on top. Scatter roasted capers, dill, and lemon zest evenly over eggplant.

10

Serve with Moroccan Wild Rice

11

Ingredients

 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
 1 packet Truvia
 1 lemonjuice from
 6 small cloves roasted garlicdiced and mashed
  cup hot harissa paste
 ½ cup capersdrained, divided
 ¾ cup extra-vigin olive oilPLUS 1 TABLESPOON
 kosher salt freshly ground black pepper
 2 tsp mesquite honey
 2 tbsp cherry preserves
 4 medium Japanese eggplants or 2 large globe eggplants (about 2 lb.)halved lengthwise
 1 lemonzest from
 3 tbsp coarsely chopped dill

Directions

1

Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 425°.

2

Mix yogurt, Truvia and lemon juice in a small bowl to combine seal and chill.

3

Blend garlic, harissa, honey, 4 Tbsp. capers, and ¾ cup oil in a blender until a loose paste forms (a few chunkier pieces are okay); season with salt (good amount) and pepper. Transfer ¼ cup paste to a small bowl and set aside.

4

4. Score cut sides of eggplant flesh in a crosshatch pattern, being sure to stop before cutting through the skin below. Rub 1 Tbsp. paste remaining in blender evenly over each cut side of eggplant so entire surface is covered. Toss remaining 4 Tbsp. capers and 1 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl until capers are coated.

5

Arrange eggplant, cut side up, on a foiled lined rimmed baking sheet, leaving a little room on one side for capers; season with salt and pepper. Spread out capers in oil in a single layer in reserved space on baking sheet; set bowl aside.

6

Roast eggplant and capers, keeping a close eye on capers, until capers are sizzling and slightly crisp, 9-11 minutes.

7

Remove baking sheet from oven and transfer capers back to reserved bowl. Return eggplant to oven and continue to roast until tender, 10–12 minutes more for Japanese, 20–25 (22 worked, shut oven off and cracked door for 5 minutes) for globe. Let eggplant cool slightly, then slice in half crosswise on a diagonal.

8

Mix cherry preserves and honey into reserved paste in bowl.

9

Arrange eggplant on a platter. Spoon (squirt bottles) lemon yogurt over eggplant, then drizzle (squirt bottles) harissa-cherry sauce on top. Scatter roasted capers, dill, and lemon zest evenly over eggplant.

10

Serve with Moroccan Wild Rice

11

Notes

Harrissa- Roasted Eggplant