Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE) This marinated salad is saturated with Russia’s southern summer flavors.
Yulia Mulino
Speaking of traditional Russian dishes, eggplant is the last vegetable that might come to mind. But in Russia’s southern regions eggplants grow abundantly. So, just how do they prepare eggplants there?

Kuban is the unofficial name of the region that includes Krasnodar Krai and a few neighboring areas in southern Russia. For centuries, this area was a source of food for the entire country. Thanks to its warm climate, peppers, tomatoes, and even eggplants grow better here than anywhere else in Russia.

I know from my grandmother that there’s a special love for eggplants in the south, where they’re fondly called sinenkie, or “little blue ones”. In addition to eggplant caviar, as well as baked and stuffed eggplants, pickled eggplants are a traditional dish. This was especially relevant when there were no refrigerators.

How exactly to cook eggplant salad in the Kuban style (po-kubanski)? The salad is stacked with layers of eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. The best way to prepare this dish is to boil the eggplant briefly. That way, it will lose some of its bitterness and absorb less oil when fried.

The quality of the vegetables and herbs is important. So I chose the most flavorful ones that you can find in local grocery stores. This year I managed to grow my own tomatoes. An important element in this salad is the dressing of greens and garlic; it will give the dish spiciness and flavor. 

This dish is more often served as a snack, but it can also be used as a main dish.

Ingredients for 4-6 servings:

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino
  • Eggplants - 600 g
  • Peppers - 350 g
  • Tomatoes - 350 g
  • Garlic (young) - 8 cloves
  • Parsley, dill, basil - 100 g

For marinade:

  • Water - 200 ml
  • Vinegar (9%) - 2 tbsps
  • Salt - 1 tbsp
  • Sugar - 2 tbsps

Preparation:

1. Cut off the eggplant stalks, put them in cold water and turn on the burner. After boiling, simmer for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size. Your eggplant should stay firm.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

2. Cut bell peppers into medium sized chunks. Flatten and grill in a greased pan until semi-tender.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

3. Cut the eggplant into 6 mm rings.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

4. Fry the eggplants in a pan with a little oil until golden brown.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

5. Finely chop the herbs and garlic, and crush.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

6. Cut tomatoes into 4 mm rings.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

7. When all the ingredients are ready, begin layering the salad. Choose a ceramic or glass dish with a lid.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

8. The first layer is the eggplant. I decided to cut the eggplant rings into halves, so it will be more convenient to serve later. Sprinkle the eggplant with the mixture of herbs and garlic. Repeat until you run out of eggplant.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

9. Spread a new layer with the peppers.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

10. Finally, place the tomatoes, interspersing each with the herbs.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

11. To make the marinade, dissolve the sugar and salt in water and heat the mixture; add the vinegar and remove from the burner.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

12. Pour the salad with the hot mixture so that the vegetables marinade better.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

13. Cover and marinate for 8-12 hours. Store for a few days in the fridge.

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

14. Serve it with a sprinkle of aromatic oil. Enjoy!

Try a marinated salad with eggplant from the south of Russia (RECIPE)
Yulia Mulino

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