Eggplant Provencale
Ingredients
1 1/2 C. uncooked brown rice
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pinch saffron
3 C. water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 medium eggplants
1/4 C. water
1/4 C. sherry
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 C. minced onions
1 large red bell pepper minced
1 Tbsp. sherry
1/2 tsp. cayenne
2 medium tomatoes chopped
1/2 C. dried currants
1/2 C. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 C. tomato juice
1/2 C. toasted slivered almonds
Chopped fresh parsley
Cooking Instructions
Cook rice, sautéing it in olive oil and crumbling in the saffron before adding the water and salt. Brush a large baking pan with olive oil. Leaving the stems on, slice the eggplants in half lengthwise and place face down on the pan. Add sherry and water. Cover tightly with aluminum and bake at 375f till tender, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté the onions in 2 Tbls. olive oil for 10 minutes. Add peppers, 1 Tbls. sherry and cayenne. Sauté covered for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, currants, parsley and black pepper. Simmer covered for a few minutes. Combine rice and vegetable mixture. When eggplants are cool enough to handle, gently mash them and push the soft middle to the side. Mound the rice pilaf on each eggplant half. Pour tomato juice into baking pan, cover tightly and return to oven to bake about 30 minutes. Serve garnished with almonds and parsley.
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalms 42:3)