argentinian marinated eggplant

Hello friends!
This week I’m sharing another recipe from Argentina, marinated eggplants or “berenjenas en escabeche”.
I’ve learnt to appreciate this kind of “pickles” while I was living in Buenos Aires. While I was working at Turner (CNN, Cartoon Network, etc.) I used to go to a little food shop on my lunch break where a very grumpy old lady sold the most delicious sandwiches with cheese, chicken milanesa (kind of a fried breadcrumbed chicken) and these marinated eggplants.
Going to that little shop was something like the soup nazi episode from Seinfeld. The sandwiches were amazing, so we used to ordered quickly, pay and leave before the old lady yell at us 😛
So, here’s my recipe for the marinated eggplants. Nowadays, I used them on a grilled cheese sandwich. It gives it an extra special garlic-oily-spicy flavor that it’s amazing!
You’ll need:
  • 1 large organic eggplant
  • 2 organic bay leaves
  • 1 organic garlic
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1 tsp salt

Peel and cut the eggplant in thick slices (about 0.4 inches each).

IMG_7701

Put the slices in a colander and sprinkle the teaspoon of salt over them. Let them rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

IMG_7702

Prepare the spices and the olive oil.

IMG_7705

Mix the spices -oregano, garlic, red chili pepper- with the olive oil in a bowl and stir it with a spoon.

IMG_7706

Remove the slices of eggplant from the colander, quickly run some cold water over them and pat dry with a paper towel.

IMG_7709

In a medium sauce pan, mix the vinegar with the water.

IMG_7704

Bring the water already mixed with the vinegar to a boil and add the bay leaves. Cut slices of the eggplant and add them to the boiling water.

IMG_7710

Let it cook for about 5 minutes and remove the eggplants.

IMG_7711

Let them drain.

IMG_7712

In a sterilized jar, add about 1/4 cup of the olive oil and spices mixture.

IMG_7715

Add part of the eggplants and some more of the olive oil mixture.

IMG_7719
Continue doing this until, layer by layer, until finished.

IMG_7720

Let it cool at room temperature and then save it on the fridge.  You can eat them the day after if you want, but the more days go by, the more tasteful it will be!

IMG_7722

Enjoy!

hello fall, illustration and promo

Yes, you might already know it: I love fall.

I grew up in a city where autumn lasts only one or two weeks and I believe that might be the reason why I love fall so much: scarcity.

When I lived in Buenos Aires, I enjoyed those cool fall mornings that even when the sun is there, it’s barely warm.

Then I lived in Brooklyn, New York. I don’t have to say anything more about the season and the city because that might be “the” season to appreciate the stunningly beautiful city at its best.

Everything about fall is just so pretty: the colors, the clothes, the weather, the fruits and veggies… And fall has that smell that it’s been my favorite ever since: cinnamon.

I want to tell you also that to celebrate the season, there’s a promo available now at my online shop: FREE Worldwide Shipping*! (Promotion expires November 9, 2014 at Midnight Pacific Time. *Offer excludes Framed Art Prints, Stretched Canvases and Rugs)

Access to promo here.
2014-10-02 Leaves
I’d love to know, which is your favorite season?
“hello fall” on my coffee table Continue reading “hello fall, illustration and promo”