Snacks
Fried aubergine with garlic and tomatoes
Fried aubergine with garlic and tomatoes is a summer starter made in almost every Russian home when aubergines are in season. Soft, golden rounds are spread with garlicky sauce, topped with a slice of tomato and sprinkled with dill. It is bright, juicy and especially good served cold. Many people avoid aubergine because it soaks up oil like a sponge. The fix is simple: salt the slices first so they release their juice, then dry them and dust them in flour. They fry faster, need much less oil and lose any bitterness.
Method
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Wash the aubergines and cut into rounds 7-8 mm thick. Sprinkle with salt, toss and leave for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile make the sauce: mix the mayonnaise with the crushed garlic and half the chopped dill.
Slice the tomatoes into 5 mm rounds.
Rinse the aubergine under cold water and dry thoroughly with kitchen paper.
Dust each round in flour and shake off the excess.
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and fry the aubergine over medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden. Add more oil a little at a time as needed.
Drain the cooked rounds on kitchen paper and leave to cool.
Spread each round with garlic sauce, add a tomato slice, top with a little more sauce and sprinkle with dill.
Tips for success
- Don't skip salting: it removes bitterness and stops the aubergine absorbing as much oil.
- Fry in properly hot oil. In cool oil aubergine goes soggy and greasy.
- For a lighter version, brush the rounds with oil and bake at 200°C for 15-20 minutes.
- Assemble once the aubergine has cooled so the sauce doesn't slide off.
Serving and storage
Serve chilled on a flat platter as a party starter or alongside grilled meat.
Assembled, keeps in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Fried aubergine without sauce keeps for 2 days.
Variations
- With cheese: sprinkle each round with grated hard cheese along with the dill.
- With walnuts: add 40 g of chopped walnuts to the garlic sauce.
- Aubergine rolls: slice lengthways, fry and roll up around the sauce and a strip of tomato.
Calories and macros
Per serving (about 283 g):
Per 100 g: 141 kcal, P 1.3, F 12, C 7.5. An estimate based on average ingredient values. Your daily calories ›
