Revised 4-09

 

This is a recipe I put together after enjoying a bottle of pickled eggplant, Georgian (as in the former Soviet republic) style.  The I researched on the internet, and found spreads or meals with some overlap of ingredients on Armenian and Bulgarian cooking sites.  I then hybridized, ad libbed, added and subtracted ingredients.

 

1 large eggplant, skinned, sliced ½"                 1 small  red onion, chopped fine

1 zucchini, sliced thin                                          8 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 16 oz. can Abalone mushrooms, drained      ½ tsp salt (sea salt is best)

6 turns of the pepper mill                                    2 tsp. HOT Hungarian paprika*

1 can diced tomatoes                                           dark corn syrup (1/4 cup?-more to taste) or brown sugar

3 TBS. Balsamic vinegar*                                   Olive oil (3TBS or more)   

2 tsp. ground coriander (or more-1 capful)      Wondra flour or other thickener (about 1tsp) or starch slurry

½ cup water                                                          ½ tsp. ginger

 

*or regular paprika and ½ jalapeno or ¾ tsp. red pepper flakes

 

In a dutch oven or at least 3 quart heavy pot, add olive oil and heat over medium-low flame.  When hot, add onion; after sweating onions,  add zucchini and sweat. Then add seasonings, diced canned tomatoes, mushrooms, vinegar, corn syrup.  Finally, after simmering, add eggplant.  Simmer on low-medium flame, covered, for about 20 minutes.

 

Then thicken sauce by sprinkling desired amount of  Wondra flour or mix 1 TBS. cornstarch with a tiny bit of cold water to make a slurry. Return to pot and bring to a boil to thicken.  Adjust vinegar/sweetener when done.  It should have a sweet/sweet sour & spicy flavor.

 

*if you do not have balsamic vinegar, the next best thing would be red wine vinegar with ½ tsp. white sugar.

 

I buy Abalone mushrooms at the oriental food store.  You can substitute a couple of large portabella mushrooms or canned oyster mushrooms.  In a pinch, 2 cans of regular mushrooms are better than nothing!