Valentina's Corner
I love this Chunky Eggplant Vegetable Spread (or ikra (икра) as we like to call it). The recipe for this chunky spread is loaded with eggplant, carrots, onion, red pepper, herbs and is rather delicious.
Another tasty spread that I recommend is the Zucchini Spread (Ikra).
ikra spread-
I am sure you have all had food you did not like growing up (or your hubby). As you get older some of the food you would have never eaten become rather delicious and you are like how did this happen? My hubby and I both were NOT vegetable lovers and especially something like this. It’s funny because now I always have some spread in the refrigerator and if I see we are running low I make more. We particularly enjoy this for breakfast. Some nights when the kiddos decide they will have a rough night and getting up a half an hour earlier to make breakfast for my hubby is really tough, this spread comes in handy. While my tea is brewing I make an over easy egg, top the egg with some spread, avocado if I have it and breakfast is served in like 5 minutes. We pray together, hubby leaves satisfied and I can get started on my day (or perhaps take another snooze if the munchkins are still sleeping=never happens, they are ALL early risers. Even Saturdays, why would get up at 7 if you could sleep in till say 9?:)..).
how to make chunky eggplant spread-
- Remove the skin from the eggplant. Cube eggplant into small pieces.
- Lightly salt the eggplant and mix. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- In a large pan, heat oil. Once hot cook eggplant for about 6 minutes,
- Grate one carrot and cube the second one.
- Finely chop the onion. Cube pepper.
- In a deep pan, heat oil. Once the oil is hot add vegetables.
- Cook 10 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
- Add the eggplants to the rest of the veggies, mix well.
- Remove skin from tomatoes. Chop tomatoes.
- Add tomatoes (with juice), ketchup, herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. Combine.
- Cover with lid and let simmer about 5 minutes. Enjoy cold or warm!
Try these other great side dish recipes:
- Russian Chicken Vegetable Salad– A simple salad with vegetables and chicken.
- Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe– Crispy cauliflower roasted to perfection!
- Creamy Crab Dip– The best crab dip.
- Vegetable Eggplant Salad– Roasted eggplants with vegetables in an oil dressing.
Chunky Eggplant Vegetable Spread (Ikra)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Remove skin from eggplant and cube into small pieces. Lightly salt, mix and let sit about 5 minutes. In a large pan, heat 2 Tbsp oil on medium/hot heat. Once oil is hot, add eggplant. Cook until soft, about 6 minutes.
- Grate one carrot and cube or thinly slice the second one. Finely chop onion. Cube pepper.
- In a deep large pan, on medium/high heat add 3 Tbsp oil. Once the oil is hot add peppers, onions and carrots. Cook 10 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
- Add the eggplants to the rest of the veggies, mix well. Move all of the veggies to side of the pan and let any excess oil drain, discard of oil.
- Remove skin from tomatoes. Chop tomatoes.
- Add tomatoes (with juice), ketchup, herbs, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar. Mix everything. Cover with lid and let simmer about 5 minutes. Enjoy cold or warm!