During summer months roasted eggplant salads are very common in Thrace, where my hometown is. Thrace (Trakya in Turkish) is the northwestern corner or the European part of Turkey. Thrace is a historical and geographical region that spreads over Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The Turkish part is the Eastern Thrace. Eastern Thrace, in years, witnessed major waves of migration, population exchanges--like the two big ones after the Ottoman-Russian war and the Lausanne Treaty--which created the marvelous ethnic, cultural, and culinary mosaic of the region today.
My favorite jewel of this culinary mosaic, Tunçilik, is one of the many different versions of roasted eggplant salads or mezes (=appetizer) that's made in the region. Tunçilik is a specialty of the southwestern part of Turkish Thrace around Tekirdağ.
for 6 people
4 eggplants
5-6 mild green peppers (New Mexico Hatch, shishito, banana, Anaheim, or even poblano) or red peppers,
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
6-7 tbsp of vinegar
3-4 tbsp olive oil
salt
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
There's nothing written in stone. You can use more or less of everything listed up here. Whatever you do, make sure you use all the ingredients. There's no such thing as Tunçilik without parsley, peppers, or tomatoes, or vinegar. Make it less vinegary or more oily or peppery, but have all the ingredients.
-Roast eggplants and peppers on a grill until soft and charred, or in an oven at 450 Fahrenheit. Roast tomatoes along with eggplants and peppers for 4-5 minutes.
-Let them cool first. If you cover them with a paper bag or place them in a paper bag, they will sweat and peel much more easily. Then peel eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes. And seed them. (I leave some charred skin on for extra smoky flavor)
-Chopped them all finely.
-In a bowl place chopped eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and parsley.
-In a small bowl, mix crushed garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and salt. Add this on vegetables.
-Mix well. Taste. If you think you can handle a little more garlic and vinegar, do not hesitate to add more.
-Tunçilik goes well with grilled red meat/poultry or vegetables or with any kind of grain. And do not forget to soak the juice with a slice of good and preferably crusty bread.
