Vegetarian Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew Recipe

Dried Aubergine Dish

         Turkish Style Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (Kuru Patlıcan ve Patates Güveç) Recipe

     Have you ever had dried eggplants (aubergine)? Or Have you ever had dried Bell Peppers? Or Have you ever had dried appricot? Our all answers are: Yes! We have tried dried vegetables and fruits since we were children. When we were children, we helped to our moms for the winter Preparation (preparation of dried vegetables). Actually, Turkish people and Mediterranean people have dried vegetables and fruits (eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, bell peppers, okra, apple, apricot) beneath the hot, intense Mediterranean sun during the summer in preparation for the winter since ancient times. Especially, in the old times, vegetables and fruits were not always available throughout the year. Nowadays, we can find almost any vegetable or fruit year round due to agricultural advances and technological advances; however, vegetables and fruits always taste the best when in season. In any case, tradition of drying vegetables and fruits come from lack of the vegetables and fruits during a certain season. The vegetables are salted and the fruits left on top of the roofs or balconies of houses in large tray or in long strings. Today, this tradition still continues in Anatolia; not because of lack of vegetables and fruits , but because of that distinct flavor that comes out of dried vegetables and fruits. When you go to shopping centers, They are still sold in various markets, groceries and bazaars in Turkey. Plus, they are sold to all around the world (America to Europa, Asia to Africa). You may like our; Turkish-stuffed-eggplant-dish-recipe .

Vegetarian Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew

        As you know, food contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins and these things are vital to life. Furthermore, efective food preservation is vital. Because, today, in daily life, the food transformation from region to region is very important. On the other hand, most preservation processes destroy many important vitamin and proteins. Nowadays, one of the important task of food technologists is to find ways of preserving food without losing these important substances. Many food technologists offer dried vegetables and fruits because of they are very healthy and tasty. For example; dried aubergine nutrition facts are known by everyone in today. Also, drying vegetables or fruit is the really perfect option (way) for the effective food preservation and efective transformation to region to region. What about us? According to us, like most of the Turkish people and Mediterranean people, we have consumed dried vegetables and fruits since we were children. As you know, vegan recipes are very popular in Mediterranean cuisine/Mediterranean diet. And diet from birth to death offers a healthy, unique and long life. You may like our; Stuffed-zucchini-dish-recipe .

Sun dried aubergine recipes

         If there is a hierarchy among the vegetables, for us, and maybe for Turkish people; eggplant's (Aubergine) place is on the king place or on the top. Given the number of different eggplant meals in Anatolian Cuisine, we think that we are not alone in our Admiration of eggplant. Actually most of the Turkish people and Mediterranean people admire to eggplant very much. Because, eggplant meals, especially dried eggplant recipes are very unique in Mediterranean kitchen. Plus, In Anatolian Cuisine, eggplant is used in various ways; we bake it, we grill it, we fry it, we roast it, we stuff it, we paste it, we puree it, we use it as filling for pastries/byreks, wrap it around Kabaps, and even make jam with it and make pickle with it. Bye the way; many Turkish people and we love dried eggplant (sun dried aubergine) dishes very much. When we were children, our grandmothers and moms dried Eggplant (Aubergine) outside. Today, we and most of our friends, neighbours keep this tradition. You may like our; Stuffed-zucchini-with-ground-meat-dish-recipe .

         In this post, we are going to mention about that "How to dry Eggplant (Aubergine)" and sharing our very unique, healthy and yummy Vegetarian Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (patlıcan güveç) dish recipe.

         Firstly, lets begin to give an information of "How to dry eggplant?" Issue!
         You may like our; Stuffed-sun-dried-bell-peppers-in-olive-oil-dish-recipe .

         How to Dry Eggplant (Aubergine)?

        As we mentioned above of the this post. "When we were children, our grandmothers and moms dried aubergine. Today, we and most of our friends, neighbours keep this tradition". Actually, most of Turkish people and maybe the most of Mediterranean people drying eggplant (aubergine) outside. You may like our; Turkish-dolma-rice-stuffed-peppers-with-oliveoil-dish-recipe .

Sun dried aubergine

       Pay attention! These Things When you Cook or Dry Eggplant (Aubergine): 

       There are couple of things to be careful about when cooking with the fresh eggplants:

       - When you buy eggplants for cooking! Try to buy them right before you cook and pick the firmer ones. Eggplants (aubergine) tend to get soft in the refrigerator. Even though eggplant's skin thick and sometimes bitter, do not peel it all the way: Peel your eggplant lengthwise in (nearly 1 cm - 1/2 inch) stripes. Once peeled eggplants darken fast. To prevent this you can take out the spongy middle part with seeds and keep your eggplants in salty water until you cook them. You may like our; Chickpeas-with-beef-stew-recipe .

         Also, There are couple of things to be careful about when drying eggplants:

      - When you buy eggplants for drying! pick the firmer ones, and pick normal size eggplant, not too big ones or short ones. Try to pick its skin shining, not dull color.

        - You can dry eggplants (aubergine) either into thick slices (2 cm /nearly 3/4 inch slices) or into thick short strips (forexample 2 cm x 6-7 cm/ nearly about 3/4 inch x 2,5-3 inch). The former way is the really quickest and easiest way to do it, but the small strips will save you the cutting steps when you use dehydrated. When you want to use your dried eggplants (aubergine) pieces, places them in a bowl of hot water and wait until they become soft. If you have big slices, i advise cutting them into bite-sized pieces cooking or frying or pickling. 

          Methods of Drying Eggplants (Aubergine)  

        You can dry eggplants (Aubergine) either in the sun shine or in the oven or top of the stove (stovetop). Bye the way, we only use sun-drying method. Most of us like sun dried aubergine very much. But, many our friends and neighbours tried the other methods. And they said that "they are not bad!". According to them; The oven method is the quickest method (you will dry your eggplants in one day or 2 days).

        Firstly, before the drying process of your eggplants; your eggplants leaves and stalks are removed. Then, cut the Eggplants (Aubergines) into thick (2 cm /About 3/4 inch slices) or thick strips (2 cm thick and 2 cm x 6-7 cm long - about 3/4 inch x 2,5-3 inch).  

Sun Dried Eggplant

         Drying in the Sun (Sun Dried Aubergine);

         Place the your eggplant (aubergine) pieces a piece of baking paper (or kitchen towel) making sure that they do not touch each other. Put the baking paper sheets in the sun either outside (roof, balcony, garden table etc) protecting them from the wind and animals or inside of your house, Forexample, generally our moms dried their vegetables on the window sill. Taste them or check them by your hands everyday to check the dryness and texture. Because, they must be completely dry. When your eggplants are completely dry. Put the dried, cool eggplants (aubergine) pieces in a jar with a lid. They will keep at least for a year (no need to refrigerate).

Oven Dried Aubergine 

         Drying in the oven (Oven Dried Aubergine);

         Firstly, preheat the your oven to 50°C (122°F) place the eggplant (aubergine) pieces on baking paper, making sure that they do not touch eachother. Taste them every 4-5 hours to check the dryness and texture (if you want, you can do this process by your hands. Just touch the eggplants every 4-5 hours). They must be completely dry and hard. Maybe, this drying process can be divided into several days. Then, put the dried, cool eggplant (aubergine) pieces in a jar with a lid. They will keep at least for a year (no need to refrigerate).

Stovetop Dried eggplant

       Drying Stovetop (Stovetop Dried Aubergine: if you have gas stove, it works best with it); 

         First of all, put the your eggplant (aubergine) pieces on a thick thread and hang high top of the stove. Your eggplant (aubergine) slices will dry while you cook. Bye the way, this drying process should be divided into several days. Taste them everyday to check the dryness and texture (if you want, you can do this process by your hands. Just touch the eggplants everyday). They must be completely dry and hard. Then, put the dried, cool eggplant (aubergine) pieces in a jar with a lid. They will keep at least for a year (no need to refrigerate).

       How to Make Turkish Style Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (Kuru Patlıcan ve Patates Güveç) Dish?  

       This is a realy perfect Mediterranean spring or summer seasons recipe with olive oil, garlic, and eggplant.

         Recipe of Turkish Style Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (kuru patlıcan ve patates güveç) Dish

       

      We like dried eggplant recipes very much. Here it is our Turkish Style Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (patlıcan güveç) Dish recipe; 

       Serve: 4-6 servings, Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes, Cooking Time: 60-65 minutes, Food Type: 100% Vegetarian,  Cuisine: Mediterranean/Anatolian Cuisine,

Main ingredient is dried eggplant for this dish

Ingredients of dried aubergine dish

sun dried eggplant pieces in a large saucepan,
and simmer dried eggplant pieces in a saucepan for 15 minutes

Dried eggplant recipes

Sun dried aubergine dish recipe

         Very good family favourite;

          Ingredients:

         - 500-600 gr Dried Eggplant, (dried aubergine) pieces,
         - 2-3 Normal size Potatoes,  diced,

         - (It is optional: if you want to add ground meat, you can add 150 or 200 gr ground beef or lamb),  

         - 1 Medium size onion, chopped,
         - 3 Cloves of garlic, sliced,

         - 2 Tablespoons pepper or tomato paste, (in this recipe, we used pepper paste), 

         - 3 Tablespoons olive oil,
         - 2 or 3 tomatoes, grated, 
         - 1/3 Cup of water, 
         - A pinch of salt to taste, 
         - 1/2 Teaspoon Ground black pepper, 
         - 1/2 Teaspoon Red flakes pepper, 
         - 1/4 Cup of parsley, chopped, (it is optional),

         Preparation:

         First of all put your all ingredients on your work surface (work table). Your first process is dried eggplant pieces. So, place your all sun dried eggplant pieces in a large saucepan, and simmer dried eggplant pieces in a saucepan for 15 minutes, drain. Then, add cold water, soak over night, drain, rinse and set aside. Then, sauté onions, garlic, and dried eggplant pieces with olive oil on medium heat for 15-17 minutes (if you want, you can add ground meat in this mixture). Then, add pepper paste or tomato paste, stir for couple of minutes  (1-2 minutes). Then, add the rest of the your ingredients and water. Cover and cook on low heat for 40-45 minutes. Sprinkle parsley on top a minute or two minutes before you turn it off. Serve with our rice/pilaf and bread.

         You may like our; Rice/pilaf-with-orzo-dish-recipe  and  No-yeast-cotton-soft-bread-recipe .     

         ENJOY!

Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew

 

      Please let us know how this "Turkish Style Dried Eggplant and Potatoes Stew (Kuru Patlıcan ve Patates Güveç) Dish Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

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