The preserved lemon really makes this dish – it adds a delicate, tangy flavor that pairs well with the tomato and yogurt. Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggplants (about 500g), cut into 3cm chunks
- 100ml olive oil
- 2 onions, finely sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 t ground allspice
- 400g cherry tomatoes
- 1 T tomato paste
- 250g bulgur wheat
- 200g Greek-style yogurt
- 1 small preserved lemon, seeds discarded, skin and flesh finely chopped
- Large handful mint leaves, finely shredded
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl, combine eggplant with 4 T oil, 1/2 t salt, and a grind of pepper.
- Spread eggplant on a large oven tray lined with greaseproof paper.
- Roast for 30–35 minutes, stirring once halfway, until caramelized and soft. When done, remove from oven and let cool.
- Heat 3 T oil in a large lidded pan over medium-high heat.
- Fry onion for 8 minutes, stirring a few times, until caramelized and soft.
- Add garlic and allspice and fry for 1 minute, stirring continuously, until garlic is aromatic and starting to brown.
- Add cherry tomatoes and mash with a potato masher to break them up.
- Stir in tomato paste, 400ml water, and 1 t salt and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 12 minutes.
- Stir in bulgur until completely coated. Then turn off heat and set aside for 20 minutes so bulgur absorbs the liquid.
- In a medium bowl, mix yogurt with preserved lemon, half the mint, and 1/8 t salt.
- Divide bulgur between 4 plates and serve with yogurt and aubergine alongside, sprinkled with remaining mint.
