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Title: Tapada (Eggplant Pie)
Categories: Sephardic Turkish Jewish Pie Ground
Yield: 8 Servings
| 2 | lb | Large (2 or 3) eggplants |
| 1 | c | Feta cheese, chopped or grated |
| 1 | c | Kashkaval cheese, grated |
| 1/4 | ts | Pepper |
| 1 | Recipe Handrajo pastry (see recipe) | |
| 1 | Egg yolk mixed w/ | |
| 1 | ts | Water |
| VARIATION | ||
| 2 | tb | Corn or sunflower oil |
| 2 | md | (1 c) onions, chopped |
| 1 | lb | Ground beef, lamb, or chicken |
| 1 | Clove garlic, chopped fine | |
| 1 | ts | Salt, or to taste |
| 1/4 | ts | Pepper |
There are many, many eggplant recipes in Turkey -- perhaps more than in any other culture. They have long, slender eggplants similar to the Asian variety & the rounded, deep purple type, preferred for this recipe since they are meatier. "Tapada" is a Spanish word & comes from the verb "tapar", meaning to cover up. We therefore assume that this 2-crust, or covered up, pie has Spanish origins.
1. Bake eggplants over an open gas flame or under an electric broiler for abt 15 mins, long enough to char surface & add a smoky flavor to pulp. Turn eggplants around several times
during this procedure. Cool; remove & discard charred skin. Chop the pulp fine & let it drain in a colander for 15 mins, gently pressing out as much of liquid as you can. Mix in cheeses & pepper & set aside.
2. Oil a 2-quart rectangular metal or heatproof glass baking dish. Prepare pastry & roll out half of dough to fit bottom of the dish & still have enough left to turn up sides & provide a crust. Add stuffing & cover w/other half of pastry. Paint surface w/egg yolk/water mixture. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 1/2 hour, or until surface of pie is golden brown. Serve as a first course in a lunch or dinner or during tea or coffee hour.
VARIATION: 1: Heat oil in a skillet & saute onions over moderate heat for several mins, until golden. Add meat of your preference, garlic, salt, & pepper. Stir-fry until meat changes color. Cool slightly & follow same directions as for eggplant stuffing.
Recipe: "Sephardic Cooking" by Copeland Mark 1992 Published by Donald I. Fine, Inc., New York, N.Y. DPileggi in Houston, Texas
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