This delicious stewed eggplant dish is a staple on most Georgian tables. Typically served cold the day after preparation, it packs a lot of flavour in just a few simple ingredients.
1green or red chilliminced and seeds removed, if desired
1large tomatodiced
25g(1cup)fresh cilantrofinely chopped, divided
5clovesgarlicminced
Instructions
Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add onions and cook until translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir until well-combined and fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the eggplant and about ½ tsp of salt to encourage moisture release. Stir to combine and cover, cooking for 5-10 minutes, or until the eggplants release a fair amount of moisture and decrease in size.
Add the peppers, chilli and tomato, stir to combine, cover and simmer, adding a bit of water if necessary to thin out the stew. Cook for about 10-20 minutes until eggplants are completely cooked through and the mixture is homogeneous and flavourful.
Add the garlic and half of the cilantro, stir to combine and cook for about 2-3 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the remaining cilantro.
Allow to cool slightly before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Serve cold.