Food Recipes Sauces, Condiments and Preserves Ajvar 5.0 (1) 1 Review Proust had madeleines; Paula Wolfert has eggplants. Her love of nightshades was seeded in her childhood, and this is her best guess at her grandmother’s recipe for a Balkan eggplant spread she often made when Paula was growing up. Tangy and only faintly garlicky, it’s an ideal accompaniment to just about anything: grilled skewered meats (like the sausages that follow), grilled fish or vegetables, or spread on bread in a turkey or tofu sandwich. —Emily Kaiser ThelinExcerpted from Unforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula Wolfert’s Renegade Life Slideshow: More Eggplant Recipes By Paula Wolfert Paula Wolfert Puala Wolfert is a freelance food and beverage writer and the author of 10 highly praised cookbooks. She is a five-time James Beard Award winner and a three-time Julia Child Award winner, among others. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 20, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Proust had madeleines; Paula Wolfert has eggplants. Her love of nightshades was seeded in her childhood, and this is her best guess at her grandmother’s recipe for a Balkan eggplant spread she often made when Paula was growing up. Tangy and only faintly garlicky, it’s an ideal accompaniment to just about anything: grilled skewered meats (like the sausages that follow), grilled fish or vegetables, or spread on bread in a turkey or tofu sandwich. Photo: © Eric Wolfinger Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 cups (about 550 grams) Ingredients 3 or 4 red sweet peppers, such as bell or Corno di Toro (about 4 ounces/115 grams each) 1 green bell or poblano pepper (about 4 ounces/115 grams) 2 eggplants (about 12 ounces/350 grams each; see Note) 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for topping 1 tablespoon unfiltered cider vinegar Heaping 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pinch of mild red pepper flakes, preferably Aleppo or Marash (optional) Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) Directions Light a medium-low fire in a charcoal or gas grill. Set the red and green peppers and the eggplant on the grill and cook slowly, turning occasionally, until they are nicely charred on all sides and soft to the point of collapsing, about 30 minutes. As they finish cooking, transfer the vegetables to a large bowl, cover with a plate or plastic wrap, and let steam and cool. Using your fingers or a paring knife, peel the eggplant and the peppers. Remove any large seed pockets in the eggplant, and then stem and seed the peppers. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Using your hands, pull the peppers and eggplant apart into chunks, then crush and massage them between your fingers to form a coarse paste. Set aside. Using a mortar and pestle, the back of a heavy knife and a cutting board, or a mini food processor, crush together the garlic and salt, forming a paste. Add the garlic paste, olive oil, vinegar, black pepper, and the red pepper flakes and cayenne, if using, to the eggplant mixture and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more vinegar, salt, and black, red, and cayenne pepper if needed. Transfer to a jar and top with a 1⁄4-inch (6-mm) layer of olive oil. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least overnight before serving. Season lightly once more before serving. Make Ahead The spread can be refrigerated for up to 1 week (its flavor improves daily). Notes The fresh red and green peppers can be charred on the stove top by setting them directly on a gas burner with the flame turned to medium-high and rotating them as they blacken. If the skin is fully charred but the flesh is not yet tender, transfer the peppers to a foil-lined sheet pan and bake in a 400°F (200°C) oven until soft to the point of collapsing, 10 to 25 minutes longer, depending on the thickness of the peppers. The eggplants can be cooked in a 400 °F (200°C) oven; pierce them a few times with a sharp knife, set them on a foil-lined sheet pan, and bake until soft to the point of collapsing, 30 to 40 minutes. From her many years of cooking with eggplants, Paula has found the best-tasting ones, especially for grilling or roasting whole, each weigh about 12 ounces (350 grams) and feel firm to the touch. Rate It Print