Incredibly aromatic eggplant in tomato sauce, a vegan stew that you will make over and over again. Melt-in-your-mouth eggplant slices stewed in a full-flavored tomato sauce.
Why are stews so great?
- Romanians like stews, we can pretty much stew anything, I don't think there is any vegetable sort or meat cut that hasn't been stewed at one point or another. I could not really say why, but I suppose it has to do with the convenience of stewing.
- One pot and one source of heat and that might be a reason why stewing has become the number one way of preparing food in Romania over the centuries or thousands of years.
- Cheap and quick, you can throw just about anything you have in one pot, stir a little and get a delicious meal made out of very few ingredients, things that are in season or you happen to have in your house or garden, without the need of going out shopping for anything special.
- And if you like eggplants, try the Romanian Aubergine Salad - Vinete, Zacusca, or these amazing Spaghetti with Eggplants.
How to make?
Tomato sauce:
The eggplant in tomato sauce is a typical Romanian vegetable stew, eaten a lot not only during the fasting times but mostly in summer when the eggplants fill the markets. I stewed them in the Basic Tomato Sauce from Thursday, but if you choose not to make your own tomato sauce, you can use your favorite brand of tomato/marinara sauce.
The ingredients indicated make 2 large jars. You will only need about 250 ml/ 8.5 fl. oz/ 1 cup for the eggplant stew.
- Chop 1 medium onion and 4 large garlic cloves finely. Keep them separated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive or sunflower oil in a large saucepan and cook the onions until translucent.
- Combine: Add the garlic, stir it shortly in the pan. Add 2 cans (400 g/ 14 oz each) chopped tomatoes. Add the 1 pack pureed tomatoes (500 g/ 17.6 oz), 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon dried savory/thyme/oreganio/Italian herbs/Herbes de Provence, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon sugar, about ยฝ teaspoon fine sea salt and black pepper.
- Cook: Bring to a boil and cook on a medium-high flame for about 20 minutes.
- Simmer: Turn the heat a bit down and continue cooking for about 15 minutes until the sauce has a nice, thicker consistency. Adjust the taste with salt, pepper or a bit more sugar, if necessary.
- Blend: Remove the bay leaves from the sauce and puree the sauce with a blender, according to your preference, you can make it as smooth as you like it.
- Makes about 2 jars, depending on their size, which keep in the fridge for about one week. To keep it longer freeze the jars.
Eggplants:
- Prepare vegetables: Slice the eggplants into 1.5 cm/ 0.6 inches. Place them in a colander and sprinkle them with salt. Leave to stand for half an hour, rinse shortly and dry thoroughly on kitchen paper.
- Fry first batch: Heat half of the oil in a large skillet or non stick pan. Fry half of the eggplant slices, about 3 minutes on each side or until golden and soft. Remove.
- Second batch: Heat the remaining oil and fry the second batch of eggplant slices. Remove.
- Add the garlic, stir for 1 or 2 seconds. Add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste and some salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to dissolve the tomato paste and arrange the eggplants slices back into the pan. Carefully cover with the sauce.
- Cook gently on medium low heat and covered for about 10 minutes, remove the lid and continue cooking for another 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken a little. Stir a couple of times in between, but very gently.
How to serve?
- The recipe for eggplant in tomato sauce serves two as a main dish with bread or potatoes, for instance or a 4 as a side dish.
- In Romania we would serve this dish with white bread.
- However, mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, bulgur, couscous, or pasta are great as well.
- Serve a green salad on the side.
- The eggplant stew in tomato sauce can also be served as a side dish for grilled meats, fish or chicken.
More vegetable stew recipes:
- Cauliflower in Tomato Sauce - one of my favorite cauliflower recipes, you definitely have to try it.
- Potato Stew with Sausages and Vegetables - another typical Romanian stew.
- Spicy Cabbage Turmeric Stew - a simple cabbage stew with unusual spices.
- Leek and Black Lentil Stew - probably my favorite vegetable stew, you won't believe how delicious this is.
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Eggplant Stew
An incredibly aromatic eggplant stew in tomato garlic sauce, a vegan eggplant or aubergine recipe.
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Servings: 2 -4
Calories: 299kcal
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants 200 g/ 7 oz each
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 250 ml/ 8.5 fl.oz/ 1 cup tomato or marinara sauce See note
- 150 ml/ 5 fl. oz/ โ cup water more if the sauce seems too thick
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 small bunch of parsley
Instructions
- Slice the eggplants into 1.5 cm/ 0.6 inches. Place them in a colander and sprinkle them with salt. Leave to stand for half an hour, rinse shortly and dry thoroughly on kitchen paper.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet or a large non-stick pan. Fry half of the eggplants, in one layer, for about 3 minutes on each side or until nicely golden and pretty soft. Remove from the pan. Add the other 3
tablespoons oil to the pan and fry the second batch of eggplant slices. Remove from the pan as well. - Grate the garlic cloves. Add them to the pan, stir once quickly. They will not need more time as the pan is already so hot, you don't want to burn them.
- Immediately add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, and some salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to dissolve the tomato paste and arrange the eggplant slices back into the pan.
- Spoon some of the sauce over them, very gently, so that they are covered in sauce. Take care not to break them. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook gently for about 10 minutes, remove the lid, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken a little. Stir a couple of times in between, but very gently.
- Sprinkle the dish with the chopped parsley and serve with bread or potatoes.
Notes
You can use your own homemade tomato sauce, my homemade tomato sauce or bought tomato or marinara sauce, a brand that you like.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Sodium: 303mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 12g
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Mishey says
My husband always does the cooking and so feeling like I should contribute, I looked for an easy eggplant recipe. I used to be an excellent cook but I got so spoiled as my husband was a chef and his food is superior.
Well, I tried this recipe and we both absolutely loved it and said that we would do it again. I did the eggplant and I made your basic tomato sauce. I was soooo nervous from not cooking for so long but it was a tremendous success.Thank you One suggestion is that you should tell people to peel the eggplant as my husband said he always peels it and I have to say that the next time I will.This is the only reason that I gave you 4 instead of 5 stars, Deeeliscious.
Adina says
Thank you for the feedback, Mishey; I am happy that the eggplants were a success for you.
Mishey says
I am making this for the 7th time since learning about it. I have the eggplant and sauce cooked. I wondered if I could assemble it as I put it in the oven sometimes with cheese. Can I put the cooked eggplant in one container and the sauce in another refrigerate and assemble it tomorrow, cook it in the oven tomorrow all together would that be OK?
Adina says
So glad to hear you cooked this recipe so many times already. Yes, you can do that; everything will be fine. You can also assemble everything in one pot and have it ready for cooking tomorrow.
Pam West says
Yum! Thank you?
Adina says
Welcome. ๐
Amy Kugali McWilliams says
This came out very tasty but I think I did it wrong... when I was frying the eggplant in the pan, I started out with the 3 tablespoons of olive oil you put here, but the second I put the eggplant in the pan it sucked up all of the olive oil and the pan was so dry. So when I flipped the eggplant over to fry the other side I added more olive oil and the dish turned out really tasty but a little bit greasy from the extra olive oil. Should I have just left the pan dry when doing the eggplant??
Adina says
You weren't wrong, Amy. That's the problem with eggplants, they suck up the oil like a sponge. I like them when fried in oil, they are creamier than when grilled or baked, but I always worry about the calories, so I try to use as little oil as possible. Try using a non-stick pan and maybe start with one or two tablespoons oil, adding more only when adding the next batch. If the non-stick pan is a bit dry when you flip the eggplants over is not so bad. If you keep an eye on them, they will not burn.
Maria says
Stunning dish! Two of my favorite foods combined together... perfect match!!! Thanks for sharing ๐
Kim | Low Carb Maven says
I like stewing meats and vegetables, too. When I first got married, I found that the easiest and most flavorful way to make dinner was to cook it in a full-flavored tomato sauce just like you did here. I love the meaty texture of eggplant and how it soaks up sauce and flavors. This is a knock-out dish, Adina!
Beth says
I love stews, too, even though I don't make them too often. They're perfect for a cold-weather night!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
As Italian, I love eggplant, or maybe adore this vegetable! We cook it often, more than any Canadian, here. So many are intimidated by this amazing vegetable, I cannot understand why. Love how you stewed them in tomato sauce!
Monica says
Tomato sauce is such a magical ingredient to use in so many ways. I love eggplant now as an adult and would love to have this for dinner, any night! I just want to have this with some crusty, warm bread, and a small glass of wine.
grace says
what a satisfying stew! it's the kind of dinner i like to take a hunk of bread to and chow down!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Maybe I'm part Romanian, because I will seriously devour anything stewed. ๐ Like this fabulous eggplant dish, It would be gone in .2 seconds if I was around! Looks absolutely cozy and delicious, girlfriend!! Cheers!
mjskitchen says
Always looking for a recipe for eggplant because it's such a tricky vegetable in both texture and flavor. I love this recipe and will be making it soon! Thanks!
Anca says
It looks delicious, I love aubergines and tomatoes, so I know I would like this stew too. x
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This is definitely something I would enjoy for the dinner! Love the simplicity and flavour.
KR says
Eggplant is one vegetable I must to use to. I eat this but this is not my favorite. Now I am looking your photos and seems that eggplant gave a second chance ๐