Stewed Eggplant and Tomatoes with Polenta

Ah, the eggplant.  To quote Mark Bittman in his book, The Best Recipes in the World, “There is nothing like a simply cooked dish of eggplant.  One of the world’s most beloved vegetables and one that several cuisines–Italian, Turkish, and Indian, most notably–treat with near reverence.”

Amen, Mr. Bittman, amen.  I think Mr. Bittman’s recipe for Stewed Eggplant and Tomatoes fits the bill.  Serving it over polenta is my contribution.

beautiful orange Turkish eggplants

I received a load of eggplant from my CSA last week.  And truthfully, I haven’t known what else to do with it.  I mean how much Ratatouille inspired meals can I eat?  How many times can I make pizza?  (A lot.)  I decided to branch out and do something more exotic, but then I read that quote and decided that yes, I could make eggplant curry or babaganoush.  I could make all sorts of things, but what I really craved was something simple and straight from the garden fresh and delicious.

 

Stewed Eggplant and Tomatoes with Polenta

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• Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
• Yield: 4-6 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• For polenta:
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup stone ground coarse cornmeal (polenta)
• salt
• olive oil
• For stewed eggplant and tomatoes:
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic (about 4–5 cloves)
• 1.5 lbs. eggplant, diced (I used some purple and some orange)
• One 28 ounce can diced tomatoes in juice or puree (can use 2–3 cups fresh diced tomatoes)
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. For the polenta: Bring the water to a rapid boil in a 3-4 quart pot. Add the salt and polenta. Lower heat and cook, stirring often, for about 30 minutes or until very thick. The polenta will start coming away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and stir in olive oil or butter. Taste and add more salt, if needed. Transfer to a serving bowl or casserole dish.
2. For stewed eggplant and tomatoes: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, season with a little sea salt and cook, stirring frequently until the onion turns golden and softens, about 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic next and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Next add the eggplant. Season again with a sprinkle of sea salt. Cook, stirring often until eggplant starts to turn golden. Add the tomatoes last and bring to a low simmer. Cook until the sauce starts to thicken and the flavors have melded, about 10-15 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.
3. To serve: Spoon some of the polenta into a serving bowl and top with the stewed eggplant and tomatoes.

Notes

Adapted from The Best Recipes In The World

• Author: Lindsey Johnson
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins