Eggplant Pilaf In Olive Oil

1 md Eggplant

Salt 2 c Long grain rice

Water 3/4 c Olive oil

3 ea Chopped onions

2 tb Pine nuts

1 lg Ripe tomato, diced

2 tb Currants

1 tb Sugar

2 ts Cinnamon

2 ts Allspice

Salt & pepper 1 c Fresh dill, chopped

Cut stem off eggplant. Using vegetable peeler, peeling lengthwise, remove a strip of skin, leave next strip on. Continue to peel in this striped fashion. Cube eggplant into 1" cubes. Sprinkle generously with salt & set aside for 3 hours. Rinse well. Drain as well as possible, but don't tear the eggplant. Soak rice in hot water mixed with 2 ts salt, until the water turns cool. Drain well & set aside. Heat olive oil in a heavy pan & cook eggplant cubes, stirring frequently. till tender & golden brown on all sides. Drain to remove excess oil. Add onions & pine nuts to same pan. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the rice & cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in eggplant & rest of ingredients except dill. Add 3 cups hot water, bring to a boil, cover & cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low & cook till all the water has been absorbed. Stir in the dill. Ensure that the skillet lid has a very good seal. Cover the skillet with a clean towel & put the lid on top of that. Set pan on a heat diffuser over the lowest possible heat & leave it for 30 minutes. Stir. Serve cold. Ayla Esen Algar, "The Complete Book of Turkish Cooking"