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Melanzana in Umido

A historical recipe from Practical Italian recipes for American kitchens, by Julia Lovejoy Cuniberti (1917).

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A historical recipe

Practical Italian recipes for American kitchens: Sold to aid the families of Italian soldiers, by Julia Lovejoy Cuniberti (1917). Project Gutenberg eBook #43912.

From an old book: a historical recipe, not current advice. Its methods, additives and storage may be unsafe by today's standards.

Italy

Known as an Italian recipe, with similar versions prepared across other nations.

Cook safely

Keep children and pets away from the hob and the oven, and keep oven gloves and a lid within reach.

  • Hot oil. Never put water on an oil fire: turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid or a damp tea towel. Pat food dry before it goes into hot oil, and lower it in gently, away from you.
  • Boiling water and steam. Turn pan handles inward, away from the edge of the hob. Lift lids away from you, and pour hot water away from your body: steam burns too.
  • Sharp knives. Cut on a board that doesn't slip (a damp cloth under it helps), and curl the fingers of the hand that holds the food.

Method

  1. Peel and cut up the eggplant.
  2. Salt it and let it stand for an hour or so to draw out the bitter juices.
  3. Drain and sauté in a little oil or drippings.
  4. Add tomato sauce and simmer a few moments until tender.

Plating

Cookware for this recipe

  • Frying pan
  • Saucepan
  • Chef's knife
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Colander
Source Public domain in the USA
Credit

From Practical Italian recipes for American kitchens, by Julia Lovejoy Cuniberti (1917). Digitised by Project Gutenberg, eBook #43912 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43912). Public domain in the USA; its status may differ elsewhere.

What was changed: As printed, from the book's text; Project Gutenberg's header and licence removed. Ingredient lines were read out of the text by a program. A historical recipe, not current advice.