Grilled Eggplant with Seared Scallion
- 2 1/2 pounds small globe, Italian, or Japanese eggplants
- 2 scallions, green part only, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
- 1/3 cup Simple Dipping Sauce (page 309) mixed with 1 clove garlic, minced
- To expose each eggplant fully to the heat, peel off the pointy flaps of the cap but leave the stem attached.
- Use a fork to poke 6 to 8 sets of holes into each eggplant to prevent it from exploding while cooking (skip this step if you are oven roasting).
- To cook the eggplants on a grill, prepare a hot charcoal fire (you can hold your hand over the rack for only 2 to 3 seconds) or preheat a gas grill to high.
- Grill the eggplants, turning frequently, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the skin is black and dry and the flesh is soft.
- To cook the eggplants on a gas stove top, turn on the burner to high and place the eggplants, one at a time, directly on the burner grate.
- Cook the eggplant, rotating it often, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it has sagged and is pleasantly smoky and charred.
- Run the exhaust fan during cooking to avoid filling your kitchen with smoke.
- If the eggplant isnt sufficiently soft in the middle, finish it off in a preheated 450F oven.
- To oven roast the eggplants, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450F.
- Split each eggplant in half lengthwise and place, cut side down, on an aluminum foillined baking sheet.
- Roast for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the eggplant halves are soft and oozing a bit of juice.
- When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, remove the skin.
- (The eggplants may be cooked and peeled several hours in advance of serving, covered, and kept at room temperature.)
- Cut the flesh crosswise into 2-inch sections.
- Use your fingers to separate the flesh into strips, placing them in a lovely pile on a serving plate.
- If the strips weep lots of liquid, pour it off the plate.
- Top with a mound of scallions.
- In a butter warmer or small saucepan, heat the oil until it starts to smoke.
- Remove from the heat and immediately pour the oil over the scallions.
- The scallions will sizzle as they sear from the hot oil.
- Serve at once with the dipping sauce.
italian, scallions, other neutral oil, simple dipping sauce
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-eggplant-with-seared-scallion-382914 (may not work)