Eggplant Pilaf With Pine Nuts and Cumin

Submitted by Sharon123

"A great recipe using eggplant and spices. Adapted from Gourmet magazine. A Russian recipe! The ingredients are also typically African/Middle Eastern."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1/2 lb)
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 cup white basmati rice
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄4 cup raisins or 1/4 cup dried currant
• 1⁄4 - 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin (to taste)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 large tomatoes, peeled seeded, and finely chopped
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh dill
• 1⁄4 cup shelled pine nuts, coarsely chopped (or pistachios)

directions

1. Cover the eggplant with water in a bowl and add about 1 1/2 tablespoons salt. Soak 30 minutes. Drain eggplant and squeeze by handfuls to remove excess moisture, then pat dry.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12" nonstick skillet over medium high heat until hot but not smoking, and sauté eggplant, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 7 minutes. Cool eggplant.
3. Cook onions in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 3-4 quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until softened. Add rice and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, raisins, remaining 1/2 tablespoon salt, cumin and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered and undisturbed, until rice is tender, about 12 minutes.
4. Fluff rice with a fork and gently stir in tomato and eggplant. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Uncover and cool 10 minutes. Stir in dill, then transfer pilaf to a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle with pine nuts(or pistachios).
5. The pilaf can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat in the microwave.
6. Makes 6 servings.

Reviews

[Valerie K.]

I am so in love with this recipe. I made it three years ago and was recently dreaming about it. I tried to find the recipe and passed over it a few times because there were no pictures, but the flavors were so memorable that I knew it was the one when I started reading it. I have made it exactly as described, except once with brown rice, and it has been wonderful both times. I am disappointed that the other reviewers changed it so much, because the specific flavors go together so well (using almonds instead of pine nuts will not have the same result, and the flavor of butter or canned tomatoes could easily overpower the other delicate flavors). I am happy to be reunited with this recipe and will make sure I don't lose it again!

 

[UmmBinat]

This is good. I used sea salt t taste, sweet butter (unsalted) instead of olive oil, I rinsed and soaked my Indian white Basmati rice, I used homemade chicken broth instead of water in the amount I usually use to cook rice, yellow raisins, a good canned tomato which I added to the rice while cooking, I did not chop the pine nuts and lightly toasted them in a dry pan. Served with recipe#319077, and recipe#149565 for a very tasty meal. Made for "I've saved all these recipes!" March Diabetic Tag%u200F.

 

[Annacia]

Most excellent. OK, I made a few changes....no dill (I detest the stuff), I used slivered almonds (because I had them) and I used a large apple in place of the tomato and added the missing cumin (1 tsp, also upped the cinnamon to 1 tsp). It was wonderful, with the changes, and made a lunch of left overs really special. I did use an extra 1/4 cup of water and only used the first 2 TBSP of oil as I didn't pre-cook the onions but just added them with the rice. Sharon, you just keep giving us winners, many thanks.

 

[vishalvkale]

Hi there - tried this one. With an Indian twist if you will. I sauted Aubergine {Brinjal to me} in oil {cold-pressed, wooden churner pure Groundnut} - with julienned onions, asafoetda pinch, carrots, grated fresh turmeric 1/2 inch, 1/8 tsp chilli powder. The rice I added tomato while sauting, and added a quartered Onion while cooking the rice in water. Lastly, I used a vegetable stock for soaking and cooking rice. Tastes great! Thanks for the recipe; will share with snaps and credit to GeniusKitchen for the core of the idea. FYKI, I got this idea while eating at a roadside stall in Pune {India}, and thought of some innovations; came across this one as I hunted during my recipe preparation....