Recipe: Skewered Japanese eggplant with peanut sauce

Skewered Japanese Eggplant With Peanut Sauce

Active Work and Preparation Time: 25 minutes * Vegetarian

Note: Japanese eggplants are very small and tender and usually have a beautiful lavender shade, although you may find white- and purple-skinned varieties. If you don’t have time to make the peanut sauce, pick up a kosher peanut sauce that is available at some markets.

PEANUT SAUCE

2 tablespoons minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 stalk lemon grass, white stem only, minced, optional

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter

1 cup coconut milk

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

* Bring onion, garlic, lemon grass, brown sugar, coriander, pepper flakes, cayenne, vegetable broth, peanut butter, coconut milk and salt and pepper to taste to boil in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer 4 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into medium serving bowl.

* Cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving. Add additional vegetable broth if sauce is too thick.2 cups. Each teaspoon: 17 calories; 13 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 2 grams fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; o protein; 0.13 gram fiber.

EGGPLANT

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 Japanese eggplants, unpeeled, cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Cilantro sprigs

4 wooden skewers

* Combine flour, salt and pepper in shallow medium bowl. Dredge eggplant slices in flour and shake to remove excess.

* Heat olive oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook eggplant slices until tender and browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

* Thread eggplant slice, lollipop fashion, on each skewer. Arrange on large platter and garnish with cilantro. Serve with Peanut Sauce.

16 to 20 skewers. Each of 16 skewers, without Peanut Sauce: 20 calories; 19 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 2 grams fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; trace protein; 0.13 gram fiber.