Grilled Eggplant With Feta Cheese, Romesco, And Mint

• Grilled Eggplant with Feta Cheese, Romesco, and Mint
• Recipe by Steve Redzikowski, chef of OAK at Fourteenth in Boulder, CO
• What you'll need:
• 1/2 cup harissa*
• 1/2 cup raw almonds, chopped
• 1/2 cup golden raisins, chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 eggplants, sliced into planks 1/2-inch thick, scored
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 8 fresh mint leaves, sliced
• Olive oil
• Sea salt, to taste

1. How to make it:
2. 1. Make the harissa romesco sauce. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, mix together the harissa, almonds, raisins, and cilantro. Set aside.
3. 2. Preheat your grill to direct, medium heat. On a baking sheet, coat the eggplant with olive oil and season with salt. Grill the eggplant until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
4. 3. To serve, place three or four slices of eggplant on a plate and top with a spoonful of the Romesco sauce, some feta, a scattering of mint leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
5. *You can find harissa in the international section of most supermarkets or in Middle Eastern specialty markets. If you're feeling ambitious, make the sauce yourself using Redzikowski's recipe.
6. Homemade Harissa
7. What you'll need:
8. 2 dried ancho chilies
9. 2 dried chipotle chilies
10. 1/4 tsp ground caraway seeds
11. 1/4 tsp ground coriander
12. 1/4 tsp ground cumin
13. 6 jarred piquillo peppers
14. Juice of 1 lemon
15. 2 garlic cloves, minced
16. 1 cup olive oil
17. Salt, to taste
18. How to make it:
19. 1. Rehydrate the ancho and chipotle chilies in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
20. 2. In a medium dry skillet over medium-low, heat the caraway, coriander, and cumin until aromatic, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
21. 3. In a blender or food processor, combine the rehydrated chilies, toasted spices, piquillo peppers, lemon juice, and garlic. Gradually add the olive oil until smooth. (If the mixture is too thick, add a little water.) Makes about 2 1/2 cups. Redzikowski says: "Any leftover harissa is great to use on anything grilled-vegetables, steak, chicken, pork."

raw almonds, golden raisins, ubc, eggplants, crumbled feta, mint, olive oil, salt

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/grilled-eggplant-with-feta-cheese-romesco-and-mint-52910621 (may not work)