Vegan Fried Eggplant Recipe with Green Peppers and Tomatoes
A delicious Vegan Fried Eggplant Recipe with Green Peppers and Tomatoes, perfect for a main course or appetizer.
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Inactive Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Vegetarian
Cuisine Mediterranean
Large cooking skillet
Splatter screen
- 1 large eggplant washed, dried, sliced in ½" rounds
- to taste kosher salt
- 2 large green bell peppers washed, dried, sliced in 1" wide strips
- 5-6 large slicing tomatoes washed, dried, sliced in ½" rounds
- 5 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoon sumac or more
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ cup healthy cooking oil more as needed
- ¼ cup walnut hearts optional
- ½ cup fresh mint or parsley leaves for garnish, optional
Spread eggplant slices on paper towels and sprinkle generously with kosher salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to sweat out any bitterness. Pat dry when ready.
Heat the oil on medium-high heat (be sure the oil is shimmering but not smoking). Start by frying green peppers, skin side down, until tender and skin turns brown. Remove from heat and place on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with a little salt and a generous sprinkle of sumac.
In the same frying pan, now fry the eggplant. Do this very carefully (use tongs to keep your distance and a splatter screen to cover the pan or skillet). Oil should still be hot or else eggplant will absorb way too much of it. When edges of one side turn golden brown, flip over. When eggplant turns golden brown on both sides, remove from heat and place on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle generously with sumac.
If needed, add a little bit of oil to your frying pan. Now, fry the tomatoes for two minutes then add the garlic. Cook another 4 to 5 minutes, tossing gently. Turn the heat down and add 2 tablespoon of vinegar, salt, and a generous pinch of sumac. When the tomatoes are tender, releasing juices and turning bright orange in color, turn the heat off.
Assemble the fried eggplant dish. Grab a large serving platter, layer a bit of the eggplant at the bottom, then add green peppers, then the saucy tomatoes on top. Repeat as needed till you have all the veggies on your platter. Garnish with fresh mint and walnut hearts.
Serve warm or at room temperature with a side of pita or Lebanese rice.
Keyword Fried Eggplant, Gluten Free, Green Peppers, Mediterranean Recipe, Tomatoes, vegan