Greek Style Eggplant

Looking for a hearty and flavorful plant-based main course or side dish? Look no further than this Greek-style Eggplant recipe!

Greek Style Eggplant

Ingredients

• 1.5-pound eggplant cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 large yellow onion chopped
• 1 green bell pepper stem and innards removed, diced
• 1 carrot chopped
• 6 large garlic cloves minced
• 2 dry bay leaves
• 4 teaspoons sweet paprika or smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon organic ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon organic ground turmeric
• 1 28-ounce can chopped tomato
• 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas
• Fresh herbs such as parsley and mint for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place eggplant cubes in a colander over a large bowl or directly over your sink, and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes or so to allow eggplant to "sweat out" any bitterness. Rinse with water and pat dry.
3. In a large skillet, heat ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil over medium-high until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, peppers, and chopped carrots. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly, then add garlic, bay leaf, spices, and a dash of salt. Cook another minute, stirring until fragrant.
4. Now add eggplant, chopped tomato, chickpeas, and reserved chickpea liquid. Stir to combine.
5. Bring to a rolling boil for 10 minutes or so. Stir often. Remove from stovetop, cover and transfer to oven.
6. Cook in oven for 45 minutes until eggplant is fully cooked through to very tender. (While eggplant is braising, be sure to check once or twice to see if more liquid is needed. If so, remove from oven briefly and stir in about ½ cup of water at a time.)
7. When eggplant is ready, remove from oven and add a generous drizzle of olive oil, and garnish with fresh herbs (parsley or mint). Serve hot or at room temperature with a side of vegan Greek yogurt or even Tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

Call to Action

In the Bible, we can see a lesson of generosity and hospitality reflected in this recipe. Just as the dish is meant to be shared and enjoyed with others, we are called to share our blessings and welcome others into our lives with open arms.