International Recipes
Pinjur (Macedonia)
This is a traditional Macedonian dish, and it is found on tables everywhere in Macedonia.
Ingredients
Eggplant
- 1 large eggplant
- 2 to 6 cloves garlic
- Salt (enough to lightly cover the garlic)
- Handful roughly chopped walnuts
Optional Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Fresh lemon
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash eggplant. Poke holes into eggplant randomly with a fork. Place eggplant on a cookie sheet which has been covered with aluminum foil. Roast the eggplant until it is thoroughly cooked and collapses (about 30 to 40 minutes).
- While the eggplant is roasting, mash garlic and salt with mortar and pestle until it becomes pasty.
- To cool eggplant quickly, slice in half, and leave draining in the sink in a colander. When cool, peel the skin off. Chop eggplant into medium size chunks.
- In bowl, combine eggplant and garlic, mashing eggplant and stirring the garlic throughout. When it is consistently mushy, throw in a handful of chopped walnuts to add crunch and texture. You can add olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and
even cilantro if desired.
- Enjoy with a loaf of crusty bread.