Marinated Eggplant is first cooked in vinegar, so it is much like an eggplant pickle. A bit of garlic and a few chile flakes give it plenty of flavor, making it perfect for serving alongside salads or simply spreading on crispy toasts or fresh baguette.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Draining and Marinating Time: 24 hours
Total Time: 24 hours, 25 minutes
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. eggplant
- 1/4 cup fine sea salt
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar or cider vinegar
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp. red chile flakes (optional)
- 1 Tbsp. rosemary, thyme, mint, ore oregano (optional)
- About 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
- 1 qt. jar with lid
Preparation:
- Peel eggplant and cut into 3-inch-long but 1/2-inch-thick square sticks. Toss with salt, set in a colander over a bowl or in a sink, and let sit and drain for at least 4 hours and up to overnight (if overnight, cover and chill).
- Squeeze as much of the remaining liquid out of the eggplant as possible by squeezing small handfuls of it. Bring 2 cups water and the vinegar to boil in a medium saucepan. Add eggplant and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
- Drain eggplant in a colander, set a plate on top to weigh it down, and let drain for several hours and up to overnight (if overnight, cover and chill).
- Again, squeeze small handfuls of the eggplant to remove as much liquid from it as possible.
- In a large bowl, toss eggplant with garlic, chile flakes and herbs, if using, and 3/4 cups of the olive oil.
- Transfer eggplant to a 1-qt. jar, add enough olive oil to cover, cover with a kid, and chill overnight. Bring to room temperature to serve.
