From the Spice Road

The Art of Flavour Food Blog

 

Persian Matbucha Eggplant and Tomato Mezza.

Important message: To everyone who loves to cook and loves true natural flavour

Before you start this recipe we strongly recommend you have the very best herbs and spices in your ingredients. Stale herbs and spices will do little to give the true flavours this recipe promises

Ingredients

  • 2 x Medium Eggplants

  • 2 x Medium Red Peppers (Red Capsicum)

  • Olive oil

  • 1 x Red onion - diced

  • 4 x Garlic cloves - diced

  • 1/2 x Cup dry white wine

  • 40g x Butter

  • 2 x Tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 x Italian tin tomatoes - diced.

  • 4 x Natural Chilli Spice Seasonings. To buy go to Chilli Spice Seasoning

  • 1 x Teaspoon brown sugar

  • 2 x Teaspoons white wine vinegar

  • 1/2 x Cup flat leaf parsley - loosely chopped

Preparation

Remove the ends of the eggplant and slice lengthwise into strips, about 2cm each. Place on a baking tray and lightly cover with olive oil.

Then slice the bell peppers open (or half if you wish) remove the seeds and with the stalks still on, place on the same tray as the eggplant strips and lightly cover with olive oil.

Place the tray in the oven at 180c and bake until the eggplant skins start to caramelise and crinkle without burning and the bell peppers have started to blacken on the skin.

Remove from the oven, discard the bell pepper stalks and slice the eggplant into rough 3cm squares. Place the peppers, eggplant and capsicum in a food processor and coarsly chop to a rough chunky puree.

Now, in a saucepan, add a little olive oil and butter and fry down the onions until fully caramelised, about 15 minutes then add the tomato paste to the bottom of the pan (to remove the bitterness - about 3 minutes) stir then add the white wine to deglaze the pot

Then add the Chilli Spice Seasoning and stir again before adding the tomatoes, eggplant and capsicum chunky puree, white wine vinegar and sugar.

Stir to mix well, bring the ingredients to a boil then allow to simmer for 30- 35 minutes to reduce so the moisture has virtually evaporated. For this you will need to stir often as the ingredients should not burn. Then add the parsley and the white wine vinegar and lightly stir. Once cooled place in glass jars with a good seal and refrigerate.

You will now have an amazing Matbucha Mezza style condiment to serve with roast lamb, roast vegetables, meat balls or in fact any main course or BBQ meats. And wonderful as a main with toasted pita bread or toasted flat bread.

Important: At the final stage of preparing the recipe it is important the moisture has virtually evaporated or reduced.

Comments: We hope you enjoy this recipe and all comments very much appreciated.