When I was working in Amsterdam, many, many years ago,
one of my favorite things to do was visit museums. One of the perks of working in a media
company, you see, was a press pass that gained me free entrance to most museums. And I love museums. Now, I want to say at this point, that in no
stretch of the imagination do I know anything about art, or history, or
anything else that goes into museums. I can’t
tell a million-dollar masterpiece from a back-alley watercolor. Nor am I an expert in world artifacts. This has its disadvantages, that much is
certain, but it also has a brilliant silver lining: I walk into every museum
with no expectations, no fore-knowledge, no technical framework with which to
measure anything against…and as such every painting, every sculpture, is filled
with new-born, dewy-eyed potentiality.
Scoff if you wish, but walking into a museum and just letting your gut,
and not a signature, tell you when to be blown away is, put simply, really
quite nice.
one of my favorite things to do was visit museums. One of the perks of working in a media
company, you see, was a press pass that gained me free entrance to most museums. And I love museums. Now, I want to say at this point, that in no
stretch of the imagination do I know anything about art, or history, or
anything else that goes into museums. I can’t
tell a million-dollar masterpiece from a back-alley watercolor. Nor am I an expert in world artifacts. This has its disadvantages, that much is
certain, but it also has a brilliant silver lining: I walk into every museum
with no expectations, no fore-knowledge, no technical framework with which to
measure anything against…and as such every painting, every sculpture, is filled
with new-born, dewy-eyed potentiality.
Scoff if you wish, but walking into a museum and just letting your gut,
and not a signature, tell you when to be blown away is, put simply, really
quite nice.
Since I could come a go as I pleased (thank you dear
press pass), and I was based in Amsterdam for a couple of months, I took my
sweet time with the museums. Even the
big old Rijks was savored in slow, steady, and delicious bites. I would come for a few rooms at a time, or
just wander, letting my heart take me where it wished. I had my favorites, seemingly random picks,
to which I would return to time and again, allowing them to awe me and inspire
me. I didn’t favor a painter or a period…as
with food, men, and books, it was all about chemistry. How can you have chemistry with a
picture? Well, I think, more than
measurement and color wheels and divine ratio, the answer to that is the secret that all true artists
know.
press pass), and I was based in Amsterdam for a couple of months, I took my
sweet time with the museums. Even the
big old Rijks was savored in slow, steady, and delicious bites. I would come for a few rooms at a time, or
just wander, letting my heart take me where it wished. I had my favorites, seemingly random picks,
to which I would return to time and again, allowing them to awe me and inspire
me. I didn’t favor a painter or a period…as
with food, men, and books, it was all about chemistry. How can you have chemistry with a
picture? Well, I think, more than
measurement and color wheels and divine ratio, the answer to that is the secret that all true artists
know.
Me? Like I said, I’m
just a simple girl who knows nothing about art…except what it’s like to be
enraptured by a picture.
just a simple girl who knows nothing about art…except what it’s like to be
enraptured by a picture.
Roasted Eggplant with Garlic Cumin Yogurt
(Inspired by Eggplant with Buttermilk Sauce from Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi)
- 2 medium-sized eggplants (the fat oblong types, not the
thin Asian eggplants, about 200 grams each) - Olive oil for brushing
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- A couple of dashes ground cumin
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
– Slice the eggplants lengthways. Score the cut side of the eggplants in a
diagonal crisscross pattern, being careful not to cut the skin.
diagonal crisscross pattern, being careful not to cut the skin.
– Place the eggplants on a baking tray and brush the cut
and scored sides with olive oil. Be
generous! Sprinkle with sea salt and a
few good grinding of black pepper.
and scored sides with olive oil. Be
generous! Sprinkle with sea salt and a
few good grinding of black pepper.
– Place the eggplants in a pre-heated 350F oven and roast
for 30-45 minutes or until completely soft and nicely browned.
for 30-45 minutes or until completely soft and nicely browned.
– While the eggplants are in the oven, put together your
yogurt. In a bowl mix together the
yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Keep this in the fridge until ready to use.
yogurt. In a bowl mix together the
yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Keep this in the fridge until ready to use.
– Once the eggplants are ready, remove to a plate. You can dress them with the yogurt sauce or
serve this on the side.
serve this on the side.
The inspiration for this dish came not so much from a
recipe but from a picture. The picture
on the cover of this book. Just look at
that. Wouldn’t you be moved to rush out
and buy some eggplant based solely on that photo? Me being me, I went and I did.
recipe but from a picture. The picture
on the cover of this book. Just look at
that. Wouldn’t you be moved to rush out
and buy some eggplant based solely on that photo? Me being me, I went and I did.
You can find the recipe for that here. If I had stopped to think a bit, before
dashing off to make this, I would have topped it with some lightly toasted pine
nuts. I’ll have to remember that for
next time. The original recipe has the
eggplants brilliantly crowned with pomegranate seeds but pomegranates are not
very easily available here. We had this
as a side for some baked chicken but I was thinking you could scrape the
eggplant and yogurt into pita bread with some chickpeas and have yourself a
nice lunch. If there are leftovers, you
could whiz them in a food processor and make a very delicious spread.
dashing off to make this, I would have topped it with some lightly toasted pine
nuts. I’ll have to remember that for
next time. The original recipe has the
eggplants brilliantly crowned with pomegranate seeds but pomegranates are not
very easily available here. We had this
as a side for some baked chicken but I was thinking you could scrape the
eggplant and yogurt into pita bread with some chickpeas and have yourself a
nice lunch. If there are leftovers, you
could whiz them in a food processor and make a very delicious spread.
I haven’t visited any museums recently and I definitely
think that should be rectified soon. We
should always give ourselves the opportunity to be moved, to be enthralled, by
something that our hearts tell us is beautiful.
Until my next museum trip, cookbook photos will have to do.
think that should be rectified soon. We
should always give ourselves the opportunity to be moved, to be enthralled, by
something that our hearts tell us is beautiful.
Until my next museum trip, cookbook photos will have to do.
That is a scrumptious combination!
Cheers,
Rosa
This sounds delicious and I love the pictures.
Kristin
(Holy Cannoli Recipes)
oh heaven, love the yogurt on eggplant.
Aaaa this is gorgeous!! Who needs meat when you've got this and a side of tangy, spicy, braised chickpeas… well now I'm thinking that a garnish of a couple of crisply grilled lamb rib chops wouldn't go amiss… :p
Eggplant is one of those versatile base for dishes, right? Nice post on this one!:)
Oh yes please! I love the sound of this!
I didn't know you lived in amsterdam for a couple of months! Had we 'known' eachother then we could have met!! I'm not really a museum person though but your eggplant dish does it for me! Delicious !
Love the recipe, photos, references and the stories (plus you write so well!)
Thanks Rosa!
Hi Kristin! Thank you 🙂
Hi Spiky! It's a combination I really love!
Hi Ling! Thanks!! And yes, this would be so good with chickpeas…or lamb chops…or both! 🙂
Hi Shalum! It sure is!
Hi Kalyn! It is so simple yet so good!
Hi Simone! Yes, it was a long time ago though…and I really loved it! Would have been so nice to have met you in person 🙂
Hi jewelsandstuff! Oh wow, thanks for such a sweet comment!! Happy you enjoyed this post 🙂
The inspiration is wonderful but I have to admit, your version had me craving more. Well, the photo and the magic word yogurt.
are you on facebook?
I've never made roasted eggplant.. and now I feel like making it because of yours. they look so nice 🙂
viethefoodamateur.
Love, love, love museums, too. We even go to small town museums… you'll always get surprised there's so much history plus seeing their local talent.
And your roasted eggplant… YUM!
The eggplant looks fantastic! I've never tried yogurt on an eggplant, but given the hub's deep hatred of eggplant, this will have to be a bachelorette night dish 😉
Hi Kaoko! Well thank you very much! 🙂 I love making yogurt into dips and sauces 🙂
Hi Anonymous…this blog isn’t 🙂
Hi Alviana! Thank you for popping in! This is very simple and the roasting really makes the eggplant all melty and soft 🙂
Hi Iska! Wonderful surprises in museums, I agree!
Hi Michelle! Thank you! Having eggplant with some sort of yogurt dip or sauce is delicious! Sort of like a deconstructed baba ganoush 🙂
How uncanny. I have Yotam Ottolenghi's 2 cookbooks on hold at the library. my husband and son turned vegetarians recently so i'm always looking for new recipes to try. I recently borrowed Ferran Adria's The Family Meal cookbook and Mourad's New Morrocan. Yes, I love cooking and cookbooks! And I have tried several recipes from your blog.
Hi Andrea! Thanks for leaving a comment 🙂 This is a delicious dish that would be great for vegetarians 🙂
YUM. I love eggplant,and roasted is best! Let's take the kids to the Mind Museum soon. Not fine art, but fun of a different kind 🙂
Hey Iyor! Kat was just telling me about the Mind Museum! 🙂 I don't trust little C around fine art yet, heeheehee 😉
Ottolenghi rocks, doesn't it? I've got both books and it's always hard to choose what not to cook 🙂
Hi Pille! I got this recipe from Apartment Therapy…I have yet to get the book but I am raring to purchase it already! 🙂
Ate this tonight in pitas- and it was delicious!
Inside the pitas, we put the yogurt sauce and some homemade hummus. Then, we added some lettuce-tomato-chickpea-artichoke hearts salad (tossed with just a little pepper, artichoke juice, and lemon zest). Put in some of the eggplant, and topped with more salad. Perfect dinner for two.
Dessert was just some fresh fruit, but hardly had room for it. Very filling dinner. Thank you so much for this recipe!