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Jan 21
Friday
Recipes
Istanbul Eats Cooks: Zübeyir’s Eggplant Smokeout


Editor’s note: As much as we love eating out, sometimes nothing can beat a home-cooked meal. But recently we started thinking about killing two birds with one stone and learning how to make at home dishes from some of our favorite Istanbul restaurants. With that in mind, we are happy to present “Istanbul Eats Cooks,” a new feature that will showcase recipes straight from the kitchens of restaurants reviewed on our site and in our book. Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for more recipes.

For years, we’ve been praising Zübeyir Usta – the ever-smiling grill master at Zübeyir, one of our all-time favorite spots – for his intoxicating mashed roasted eggplant dip (seen above), a simple dish that still manages to hit a whole number of complex yet very satisfying notes. The dish’s name, közde patlıcan, or “eggplants over coals,” is true to that smoky flavor that only a good charcoal fire can deliver.

Recently, Zübeyir Usta invited us behind the grill and then into the kitchen for a tutorial and we are happy to present what we learned.

(Serve as an appetizer or side dish for four people.)

Ingredients:
1 large eggplant
1 medium tomato
2 long green peppers
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 wedge of fresh lemon

Preparation:
Cut the tomato in half and skewer it along with the peppers.
Char the eggplant, tomato and peppers over glowing hardwood coals (the eggplant should be placed right on the coals, the other vegetables just above them). When the eggplant is soft, remove all vegetables from the fire and peel the charred skin.
Finely chop the tomatoes and peppers, mixing them together until they reach the desired consistency. Chop the eggplant finely and mix it with the other vegetables on a cutting board. Mix in the garlic, spices, lemon juice and olive oil. Serve warm with fresh lavash or flatbread.

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8 Responses to “ Istanbul Eats Cooks: Zübeyir’s Eggplant Smokeout ”
  1. It’s snowing to beat the band here in Boston today. This sounds like just the thing to warm up the stove, the kitchen, the cook. Sadly, no charcoal this time. But I can get all the ingredients at the Armenian markets just down the hill from my house. Thanks once again for inspiring me.

  2. We have exactly the same dish here in Kavala – melantzana kapnista – everything pretty much the same but it is topped with crumbled feta cheese, some oregano and much more olive oil. So very good

  3. ChiChi,
    I’ve seen eggplants “grilled” on an stovetop’s open flame. It chars up and delivers the desired consistency. A good winter remedy. Good luck and enjoy the recipe. Please let us know how it turns out.

  4. The trick lies in choosing the eggplant(especially in winter) and not blackening it while charring. Additional tips would be welcome.

  5. Thanks Kerem. Do you have any tips on how to choose the right eggplant?

  6. Hello

    Does anyone have a fool proof recipe for etli dolma?

    Dervise

  7. To choose the right thin and long eggplant look for the soft one. You can squeeze them in the store, they do not bruise. The hard ones are hard because they are late (too ripe) and have too many seeds…

  8. Have been searching for this recipe, after having this smoked aubergjne in Istanbul! Thnx for sharing!
    Is there any alternative to the use of coal, dont like the mess it leaved!


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