Roasted Eggplant with Rhubarb Couscous
Sylvia Lavietes
4 as an appetizer
Snack
Ingredients
Spice Blend
1 Tbsp pimentón
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper
1/2 tsp turmeric
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2 eggplants
One lemon-juiced
1/2 cup tahina
Warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp of the spice blend above
Salt plus flaky salt and yogurt, chopped parsley and/or scallions for finishing.
Optional: za’atar
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4 stalks rhubarb cut in small pieces.
1/4 cup sugar
1 heaping teaspoon of the spice blend above
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
Pepper
1 cup quick couscous
Directions
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Finely grind the cumin and coriander and mix with the other ingredients.
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Pour tahina in a bowl with the juice of the lemon. It will ‘seize’. Add about a quarter cup of warm water and continue whisking. continue water until the sauce flows. Season with salt, and if you wish, some za’atar.
Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Cut lines about a half inch deep in a cross-hatch pattern.
Mix the olive oil, spice mix, and salt.
Brush the spiced oil onto the 4 cut sides of the eggplants. Bake them, cut side up, at 375 degrees, for about 40 minutes, or until tender. You can also cook them over indirect heat on the grill.
While they bake make the couscous: Simmer the rhubarb in water to cover along with sugar and the spice blend.
Add the lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and a few grinds of pepper.
Add 2 cup of water. Bring to a boil the add the couscous.
Cover and turn off heat and let sit for 5-10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Remove the eggplants from the oven and comb their tops with a fork to incorporate the oil.
Top with the rhubarb couscous, tahina sauce, and if you like garnishes like yogurt and fresh herbs.
