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For many years I considered myself a member of the
ranks of the
eggplant-challenged. Unlike the rest of the denizens of the summer garden
patch, this weird fruit is complicated, yielding a seedy flesh that
requires intellectual pursuit. You can’t just boil up some eggplant
or sauté it in a pan and put dinner on the table. Oh, no. It was a big day when I cooked up palatable eggplant,
when she finally surrendered and let me be boss, yielding tender, flavorful
morsels. With a renewed sense of confidence, I acquired a small stable of
eggplant recipes, and I could now check her off my to-do list. In spite of my newfound knowledge, I kept eggplant at
arm’s length and joined another club, the eggplant-reluctant.
“What’s the big deal?” I kept
thinking. There were so many other summery options giving me a lot less
grief. And then one day not too long ago I discovered the
Japanese eggplant, the stubborn purple globe’s thinner, even prettier
sister. She’s manageable, plays nice with others, and, get this,
softens up like a charm. I discovered how easy it is to fall in love when
she’s curried in a seductive coconut-milk-spice bath, and now I
can’t get enough of her.
Culinary questions? Contact Kim O’Donnel at
kim.odonnel@creativeloafing.com.
Asiah’s Eggplant Curry
Adapted from Cradle of
Flavor, by James Oseland
1 pound (about four) Japanese eggplants, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into
pieces, 2 to 3 inches long 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp, plus 3 tablespoons very warm water to make extract Peanut oil for frying Two cloves garlic, thinly sliced lengthwise Three shallots (about 2 1/2 ounces), peeled and thinly sliced lengthwise One to five fresh green Thai chiles, halved lengthwise and seeded (three makes a medium-spicy result) 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds One piece cinnamon stick, 3 inches 3/4 cup (about 4 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk 3/4 cup water 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt
Place eggplant in a large bowl and add turmeric,
massaging into eggplant until evenly coated. Set aside. Place tamarind pulp in a small bowl and mix with warm
water, allowing it to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Squeeze softened pulp
through your fingers, loosening it from sinew and seeds. Pour through a
sieve; you will have a caramel-colored extract. Reserve liquid. Pour about 1 inch of oil into a three-quart pot or
wok and place over medium-high heat until oil is 365 degrees. Fry eggplant
in small batches until fleshy side turns golden, about 90 seconds. Eggplant
should be just cooked and not at all soft or mushy. Using a slotted spoon,
transfer eggplant to paper towels to drain. Turn off heat. Let oil cool slightly, then pour off
all but 2 tablespoons. Reheat pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and
shallots, cooking until translucent, about two minutes. Add chiles and spices. Sauté, stirring spice
paste to minimize scorching, about three minutes. Add coconut milk and water; stir to combine over
medium heat. Bring coconut milk to a lively simmer, then reduce heat to
maintain a gentle simmer. Stir in tamarind liquid, sugar, and salt; simmer
for about 15 minutes. Add eggplant and cook until fork-tender, one or two
minutes. Do not let it overcook and fall apart. Taste for salt; add
accordingly. Transfer to a bowl and serve, slightly warm or at
room temperature, with steamed rice. Makes four servings.
This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2007.
