Eggplant and Potato Gratin.

[achookwoman]

Ral says that this is the only way to eat Eggplant. Delicious.  Guests devour my smokey eggplant dip so I am not sure he is right.
This makes an excellent side and I would be happy to serve it to guests.
Serves 4.
Ingredients.
1 large eggplant, weighed
Potato, peeled and diced, the same weight as eggplant, ( if the eggplant weighs 300 g, then 300g of prepared potato)
30 to 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated.
Handful of parsley, chopped.
1 clove of garlic
1 egg
1 cup of fresh bread crumbs.
Salt and black pepper to taste.

Method.
Peel and dice potato and steam in TMX basket until cooked. 20 minutes + , at Varoma temp. Set aside. Empty bowl of water.
Cook eggplant over gas, ( see photo) if no gas, cook under grill until well browned on both sides. But this will not give the smokey flavour . If cooked over gas, allow to cool, cut in half and scoop flesh into TMX bowl.
Add cooked potato to bowl with garlic , Parmesan, egg  and parsley.
Press as much liquid as possible from cooked eggplant and add to bowl.
Mix for 1 minute, speed 7.
Scrape into. Gratin dish and top with bread crumbs, spray with oil .
Bake in hot oven until heated through and brown and crispy on top.

Notes
Can be prepared a couple of days prior, covered and placed in fridge ready for baking.
If eggplant is baked in oven, a couple of drops of smoke essence could be added.
Could be served as a light lunch dish with a side of crisp salad.

[Cuilidh]

This recipe is right up my street ... except, do you think I could get away without using the parmesan?  I might see if there is a vegetarian equivalent - savoury yeast flakes plus something else perhaps.

[judydawn]

So it's basically mashed potato with added ingredients Chookie?  How different is the taste to ordinary mashed potato, it must take it to a much higher level with those inclusions. An interesting recipe, I must try it.

[achookwoman]

Marina, thought of you when I made it.  Could leave out the Parmersan but could add yeast flakes. Would be ok without either.
Judy, if cooked over gas flame it is very tasty. Would hardly know that there was potato there. Think it would freeze well.

[judydawn]

Thanks Chookie, I freeze pretty well everything here.  I hate cooking for 1 so cook normal family meal quantities most of the time.

[judydawn]

I bought an eggplant on the way home this afternoon to try your interesting recipe Chookie.  I thought it was going to be too runny but it set up nicely during the 15 minutes in the air fryer.  I then transferred the mixture into individual dishes for the freezer.  Licking the bowl and spatula, it is really nice!  Thanks for another great recipe.

[Cornish Cream]

Thanks for the recipe Chookie.

[achookwoman]

Judy, thanks for trying this recipe.  Glad you liked the taste you had.

[Cuilidh]

I also made this over the weekend ... cooked the eggplant in the microwave (c. 5 minutes) so added a few drops of liquid smoke - I could have probably used a bit more to deepen the flavour.  Managed to get some vegan parmesan cheese at the market so used that and added tomatoes to the top for the final stage of cooking.  Very tasty.

[achookwoman]

Marina, I was thinking that your very tasty Kasundi would be nice with this as a meal.

[Cuilidh]

I have some of this bake and some of the kasundi left over - thanks for the idea, will try it tonight!!!

[achookwoman]

I have some of this bake and some of the kasundi left over - thanks for the idea, will try it tonight!!!

Good, let us know what you think.

[Cuilidh]

I found that kasundi I made was too sweet without any "heat", I think perhaps a good chutney would have suited it better.

I think I've got a good chutney recipe ready to go next year when tomatoes are in season so will try to remember this bake then and try it out.

[achookwoman]

Thanks, worth a try.