Zaalouk or Eggplant Cooked Salad

This a very traditional tasty cooked Moroccan salad made with eggplant, fresh tomatoes and pure olive oil, flavored with spices and cooked to a puree.  It's a very common side entree to many dishes with the Bread .

Ingredients:

1     Large eggplant 

4     Tomatoes 

3     Garlic cloves 

1     Small green Pepper

2     TBS olive oil

1     TBS cilantro and Parsley

1/4  Teaspoon Cumin 

1/2  Teaspoon Paprika

2     TBS Lemon Juice

1      Pinch of cayenne Pepper

2     TBS Olives  

1/4  Teaspoon tomato paste 

1/2   Cup water

       Salt  & Pepper to taste 

Steps:

1- Get out a deep and large pan, and add olive oil to it. Heat up the pan to a medium heat.

2- Add the chopped eggplant , Tomatoes , and the green Pepper , & the Garlic.

3- stir little bit in the Olive oil and Add the water , Cover and let simmer till the vegetables become so tender and the mixture is boiling (add little bit more water if needed).

4-Add the spices and the tomato Paste and cilantro and Parsley , let all continue simmer & stir from time to time till it's well cooked then start to Mash with the fork or wood spoon.

5- when all access of water are gone and the mixture is thick add chopped Olives and Lemon Juice , stir to mix & make sure it doesn't stick in the bottom of the pan  .

6- Turn off the Heat & Adjust seasonings if necessary, a bit of more salt or ground black pepper or ground cumin if you wish.  Add a pinch of sugar if the sauce tastes too acidic & Serve warm or cold.