GRILLED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH ONION AND CUCUMBER

GRILLED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH ONION AND CUCUMBER
Categories: Salads, Holiday
Yield: 8 servings

2 Small eggplants*
2 tb Salad oil (approx)
1 Medium European cucumber**
1 Sm red onion,thinly sliced
1/2 c Cider vinegar
2 tb Firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 ts Salt

* - end trimmed, cut into 3/4" thick slices
** - thinly sliced

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1. Lightly brush eggplant slices with oil and put them on a tray.
2. On a barbecue with lid, place grill 5-6" over a solid bed of hot
coals (you can hold your hand at grill level only 2-3 seconds). When
grill is hot, rub it lightly with a paper towel dipped in salad oil.
3. Lay eggplant slices close together on grill. Cover barbecue, open
drafts, and cook until slices are well browned and soft when pressed,
15-20 minutes; turn, as needed, with a wide spatula. Return slices to
the tray. If slices are cooked ahead, cover and chill up to a day.
4. In a bowl, cover cucumber and onion slices with ice water. Quickly
squeeze slices to briuse lightly, then cover and chill 30 minutes to 1
hour; drain. In bowl, mix cucumber, onion, vinegar, sugar, and 1/2
teaspoon salt. If made ahead, cover and chill up to 4 hours. Coarsely
chop eggplant and spoon onto a rimmed platter; top with cucumber and
onion mixture. Add salt to taste.