Badrijan Nigvzit

“Choose straight eggplants whose bottoms are not significantly larger than their tops for this recipe, as they yield more-uniform slices. Slender Chinese eggplants work well and are the type most commonly found in Georgia.

Make Ahead: The filling benefits from a few hours' rest in the refrigerator. The salted eggplant slices need to sit for 30 m

inutes. The filling can be made up to 3 days in advance (and should ideally be made a day ahead of serving). The eggplant can be fried 1 day before serving. Store the filling and eggplant, separate and covered, in the refrigerator. It's best to assemble the rolls no more than a couple of hours before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander, or more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground fenugreek, or more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or more as needed, plus more for salting the eggplant
• Small pinch cayenne pepper, or more as needed
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 medium globe eggplants or 10 Chinese eggplants
• Canola oil or grapeseed oil, for frying
• Crackers, for serving (optional)
• Cilantro sprigs, for garnish (optional)
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced, for garnish (optional)
• Pomegranate seeds (arils), for garnish (optional)

Directions

Combine the walnuts, garlic, vinegar, coriander, fenugreek, salt, cayenne pepper and water in a food processor; puree until fairly smooth. Taste, and adjust the seasonings as desired. If you have time, chill for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld.

Trim off and discard the tops of the eggplants (but do not peel them). Cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

Salt the eggplant slices generously and let them stand for 30 minutes, then press out any dark juices, rinse and pat dry; this will help minimize bitterness.
Line a baking sheet with several layers of paper towels.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add just enough of the eggplant so as not to overcrowd the pan. Brown on both sides, adding oil as necessary to prevent the eggplant from sticking or burning. Transfer to the lined baking sheet to drain and cool. Repeat, working in batches, until all the slices have been fried.

Spread a layer of filling on one side of each fried eggplant slice, then roll up tightly to enclose the filling.

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