Aubergine Caviar

Elevate your appetizer game with this flavorful Aubergine Caviar. Made with small aubergines, olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, and served with crispy pitta bread, this dish is a delightful combination of smoky and savory flavors. The aubergines are diced and steamed to achieve a soft and tender texture. They are then cooked with garlic, paprika, and olive oil to create a rich and flavorful caviar-like spread. The pitta bread is brushed with egg white, sprinkled with cumin seeds, and baked until crisp, providing the perfect vessel for dipping into the delicious aubergine caviar. This recipe is perfect for entertaining guests or as a flavorful snack. Get ready to impress your taste buds with this delectable Aubergine Caviar.

INGREDIENTS

• 900g/2lb small aubergines
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 3 large pitta breads
• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
2. Dice the aubergines and place them in a colander or bamboo steamer. Steam the aubergines over a pan of boiling water for 30 minutes until they are tender.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the steamed aubergines, garlic cloves, and smoked paprika. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until the aubergines are soft and well-cooked.
4. Prepare the pitta bread by splitting each into 2 rounds. Brush the pitta bread rounds with the egg white and sprinkle them with cumin seeds.
5. Place the pitta bread rounds on a baking sheet and bake them in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until they become crisp.
6. Serve the Aubergine Caviar with the crispy pitta bread rounds for dipping.

YIELD

• Serves 8

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Adjust the seasoning of the aubergine caviar with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
• Feel free to add fresh herbs like parsley or coriander to garnish the dish and enhance its flavors.

TIPS

• Make sure to dice the aubergines into small pieces for quicker and more even steaming.
• If you don’t have a bamboo steamer, a regular colander will work fine for steaming the aubergines.
• Experiment with different spices or herbs to customize the flavor of the aubergine caviar to your liking.
• Serve the Aubergine Caviar and crispy pitta bread as an appetizer or snack at your next gathering or enjoy it as a flavorful addition to a mezze platter.

In conclusion, Aubergine Caviar is a delicious and flavorful appetizer that will impress your taste buds. This recipe features small aubergines that are diced, steamed, and cooked with garlic, olive oil, and smoked paprika, resulting in a rich and savory caviar-like spread. The aubergine caviar is perfectly complemented by crispy pitta bread rounds, brushed with egg white and sprinkled with cumin seeds.

To prepare the dish, steam the diced aubergines until tender, then simmer them with garlic, olive oil, and smoked paprika until soft and well-cooked. Meanwhile, prepare the pitta bread rounds by brushing them with egg white and sprinkling them with cumin seeds. Bake the pitta bread rounds until they become crispy.

Serve the flavorful Aubergine Caviar alongside the crispy pitta bread rounds for dipping. The combination of the creamy and smoky aubergine caviar with the crunchy and aromatic pitta bread creates a delightful texture and flavor contrast.

Feel free to adjust the seasoning of the aubergine caviar to your taste preferences and garnish it with fresh herbs like parsley or coriander for added freshness.

This recipe is perfect for entertaining guests or as a flavorful snack. The combination of smoky aubergines, savory spices, and crispy pitta bread is sure to satisfy your cravings and impress your guests.