Eggplant (aubergine) Punta Nero

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 medium eggplants, cubed small
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large sweet onion, finely diced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 whole garlic clove, extra
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
• 3 slices french bread or 3 slices italian bread, toasted
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or more)
• 1 lb fresh raw shrimp
• 1/4 cup ouzo
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olive, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted pistachios, chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 eggplant should be in 1/2 inch cubes. sprinkle lightly with salt and set aside.
• 2 toast the spices in a medium hot skillet until just fragrant. do not brown.
• 3 remove to a bowl to cool, then grind in a mortar or spice grinder.
• 4 combine the onion and minced garlic and sprinkle lightly with salt.
• 5 rub the toasted bread with the whole garlic clove, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes or croutons. you should have at least two cups of croutons.
• 6 toast the pistachios in the spice skillet briefly. set aside.
• 7 saute the onion and garlic in two tablespoons of olive oil until translucent.
• 8 add the spices and stir well.
• 9 meanwhile squeeze the bitter liquid out of the eggplant and add the eggplant to the onions.
• 10 saute until soft on medium heat adding more olive oil if necessary. do this slowly and try not to brown the onions. stir frequently.
• 11 in another pan, saute the shrimp until just lightly pinked but still raw inside.
• 12 in a large bowl, toss the croutons, eggplant onion mix, diced bell pepper, shrimp and parsley, capers, chopped olives and pistachios.
• 13 sprinkle the ouzo over all and toss again.
• 14 divide the mixture into ramekins or one larger casserole dish.
• 15 sprinkle parmesan on top.
• 16 bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes in small dishes or 15 minutes in large dish.