Smoked Aubergine Milanese Dish (Print Version)

Crisp smoked aubergine, golden panko coating, served atop rice with herb-infused tomato sauce.

# Ingredients:

→ Main

01 - 2 large aubergines
02 - 2 eggs
03 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
04 - 65 grams all-purpose flour
05 - 60 grams panko breadcrumbs
06 - Zest of 1 lime
07 - Vegetable oil, for frying
08 - Salt, to taste
09 - Black pepper, to taste
10 - Cooked rice, to serve

→ Tomato Sauce

11 - 400 grams tinned plum tomatoes
12 - 1 garlic clove, grated
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
14 - 1 teaspoon sugar
15 - 0.5 teaspoon MSG (optional)
16 - Salt, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Place whole aubergines directly over a gas flame or under a hot grill, rotating occasionally until skins are completely blackened and flesh is tender. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly, and steam for 10 minutes to loosen the skin.
02 - Once cooled slightly, peel away and discard the charred skin. Using a fork, gently flatten each peeled aubergine to approximately 2 centimetres thick. Season liberally with salt.
03 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add grated garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add tinned tomatoes, crushing them with a spoon. Stir in sugar, MSG if using, and salt. Simmer for 6–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
04 - Whisk together eggs, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl. Place flour and panko breadcrumbs in separate shallow dishes. Coat each aubergine slice with flour, dip in the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs.
05 - In a frying pan, heat 1 centimetre of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Fry breaded aubergine slices in batches for 2–3 minutes per side until crisp and golden. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
06 - Reheat tomato sauce if necessary. Arrange fried aubergine slices over a bed of cooked rice. Spoon tomato sauce on top and finish with lime zest before serving.

# Notes:

01 - Allowing the aubergines to steam covered ensures the skin peels away easily and enhances smoky flavour.
02 - For best results, press breadcrumbs firmly onto the aubergine to achieve an even and crisp coating.

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