Eggplant Spread, Odessa Style

There are two main ingredients in this vegetable caviar, so choose the best of them. The eggplants must be small and fresh — the bright green stem, deep purple, lovely sheen, and firm to touch. We also need thickly fleshed heirloom Beefsteak tomatoes with nicely balanced sweet and sour flavors for this recipe. Cut them in half and grate until only skin is left in your fingers. If no good fresh tomatoes are available, use Italian or Greek canned ones, peeled and crushed. The volume ratio of mashed eggplant to grated tomatoes is about 2:1, but feel free to adjust it to your taste. It is essential to season this spread properly, bringing up natural flavors of smoky-sweet eggplant and delicately acidic tomato. Salt, black pepper, and fresh garlic are a must. In Ukraine, extra virgin unfiltered sunflower oil is also a must, but organic French EV sunflower oil comes close and can be used to substitute it. Often, I don’t add any oil at all.

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet