Bouranee Baunjan (Eggplant With Yogurt Sauce…an Afghan Dish)

I am posting this recipe as my lead off dish because I recently experienced it for the first time while I was in San Diego, and can I tell you it was simply scrumptious. So I Googled Afghan eggplant recipes and then cross referenced it with the menu at Chopahan Restaurant in San Diego. Tonight I tried it out on my sister and she loved it!!!

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant

Salt or onion salt

Olive oil for frying

1 medium onion; sliced thin

1 bell pepper (any color); seeded, sliced thin

1 large ripe tomato

1/4 cup water

1 small can tomato sauce (7oz)

1/2 teaspoon corriander

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Fresh cilantro or mint(optional) I used mint.

6 oz. plain yogurt

2 cloves garlic (or more, or 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder)

Method:
1. Cut the stems from eggplant and peel. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spread on a tray and sprinkle slices liberally with salt. Leave for 30 minutes, then dry well with paper towels. Pour enough oil into a deep frying pan to cover base well. Fry eggplant until lightly browned on each side. Set aside on a plate when browned.Add more oil to pan as required for remaining slices.

2. As oil drains out of eggplants on standing, return this to the pan and add onions and bell peppers. Fry gently until onions are transparent. Remove to another plate.Place a layer of eggplant into a Pyrex pan. Top with some sliced onion, bell peppers and tomato slices. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

3. Mix in any remaining oil from eggplant and onion and add water, tomato sauce, corriander, salt to taste, pepper and turmeric, and pour over the entire dish with spoon to cover evenly.

4. Cover and place in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Uncover for the last 10 minutes to evaporate the excess liquid.

5. Combine yogurt, garlic cloves and salt. Top eggplant with yogurt. Sprinkle top with cilantro or fresh mint. Serve with fresh pita bread.

Bon Appetite!!!

This recipe earned an 8.5 on the old Chris taste scale...wahooo!