Winter salad of eggplant and cucumbers

Eggplants with cucumbers for the winter are a well-known snack that came to us from the southern regions. This tasty and aromatic dish will be a pleasant reminder on the table of the hot summer and generous autumn harvest. It is simple to prepare and can be performed even by beginners.

Features of preparing eggplants with cucumbers

Eggplants are extremely healthy due to their rich composition. They contain:

• B vitamins;
• folic acid;
• macroelements (copper, magnesium, potassium);
• phytomenadione.

Eating eggplant helps strengthen the heart muscle, lower cholesterol and control blood pressure. The juice of the vegetable dulls the appetite, and its low calorie content makes it possible to include it in the diet.

The main feature of eggplant is the need to prepare it before use. Since fresh pulp is bitter, after cutting it into pieces, soak it in cold salted water for 30-40 minutes. After this, the bitterness goes away, the water is drained, the chopped vegetables are washed well and used in recipes.

Cucumbers are no less popular. They are well known for their cleansing properties. This type of vegetable is able to remove toxins from the body, salts from joints, cholesterol from blood vessels and free radicals from the bloodstream.Cucumber is also a source of fiber, potassium, manganese, copper, magnesium and folic acid.

When choosing eggplants to prepare for the winter, you should pay attention to their appearance. The skin should be smooth and shiny, and the stalk should be strong and greenish. These are undeniable signs of the freshness of the product. Cucumbers are selected based on color (it should be uniform) and elasticity. The richest taste is found in medium-sized specimens (10-15 cm) with dark tubercles. It is from them that the best preservation for the winter is obtained. Before use, cut off the tips of cucumbers, since it is in them that bitterness most often accumulates.

Eggplants need to be soaked for 40 minutes before harvesting to remove bitterness.

The combination of these two types of vegetables makes the dish very healthy. The main thing is to know how to cook them correctly.

Salad with eggplants, cucumbers and peppers

The recipe for salad with eggplants and cucumbers for the winter allows for several variations that can significantly enrich its taste.

Required:

• eggplants – 2.8 kg;
• tomato juice (freshly squeezed) – 1.7 l;
• cucumbers – 1.4 kg;
• sweet pepper – 1.4 kg;
• onion – 600 g;
• salt – 40 g;
• sugar – 180 g;
• vegetable oil – 400 ml;
• vinegar (9%) – 140 ml.

The salad can be consumed 2-3 months after seaming

Preparation steps:

1. Wash the eggplants, peel them (optional), cut into slices, add salt and place under a press for 1.5-2 hours. Then wash and squeeze.
2. Chop cucumbers and peppers in the same way.
3. Pour the tomato juice into a saucepan, place over medium heat and bring to a boil.
4. Chop the onion into half rings and add it to the juice.
5. After 5 minutes, add eggplants, peppers and cucumbers.
6. Bring to a boil again and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Add sugar, salt, oil, vinegar into the mixture and simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
8. Place the salad in pre-sterilized jars and roll up the lids.

Eggplant and pepper preparations for the winter should be cooled upside down.

This dish can be consumed 2-3 months after canning. During this period, the eggplants will infuse and become much richer in taste.

Cucumbers marinated with eggplant and garlic

This type of winter preparation has a pleasant garlic aroma and will be a good addition to appetizers on the dinner table. If desired, you can add any greens and dry herbs to the recipe.

You will need:

• cucumbers – 8 pcs.;
• eggplants – 2 pcs.;
• dill – 50 g;
• garlic – 2 heads;
• laurel leaves – 6 pcs.;
• pepper (peas) – 14 pcs.;
• sugar – 80 g;
• vinegar (9%) – 20 ml;
• salt – 20 g.

Mustard seeds and coriander give the preparation a piquant taste

Preparation steps:

1. Prepare the eggplants, cut into rings (soak in cold salted water or put under a press).
2. Peel the garlic and wash the cucumbers well.
3. Sterilize the jars and leave to dry.
4. Place dill and garlic (3-4 cloves) into glass containers.
5. Cut the cucumbers into quarters (vertically) and place them in jars, alternating with herbs.
6. Place a few eggplant rings and 2-3 cloves of garlic on top.
7. Boil water and pour it into a container with vegetables. Leave for 20-25 minutes.
8. Pour the resulting broth into a saucepan, turn on medium heat, add salt, sugar, bay leaf and pepper.
9. As soon as the marinade boils, pour in the vinegar.
10. Pour everything back into the jars, roll up the lids and leave until completely cool.

Salad with cucumbers, eggplants and tomatoes for the winter

Winter preparations with cucumbers, eggplants and tomatoes are appreciated due to the juiciness that the tomatoes provide in the recipe.They are a good addition to meat dishes. Hot peppers add piquancy, and the combination of vinegar and sugar provides a pleasant sweet and sour taste.

You will need:

• tomatoes – 1.6 kg;
• eggplants – 700 g;
• cucumbers – 700 g;
• vegetable oil – 100 ml;
• sugar – 90 g;
• vinegar (9%) – 70 ml;
• pepper (hot) – 1 pc.;
• garlic – 1 head;
• Provençal herbs – 1 pinch;
• salt – 20 g.

Thanks to the tomatoes, the preparation turns out very juicy

Preparation steps:

1. Cut the eggplants into cubes, soak in salted water for 40-50 minutes, wash and squeeze lightly.
2. Rinse the cucumbers, remove the ends and chop them in the same way.
3. Peel the garlic, cut out the stalk and seeds from the pepper.
4. Grind tomatoes, garlic and hot peppers through a meat grinder.
5. Add oil to the pan, heat it up, add a pinch of dry herbs.
6. Add the tomato-garlic mixture, sugar, salt, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Add eggplants and cucumbers to the pan and simmer over low heat for another 25 minutes.
8. Add vinegar.
9. Place the salad in hot sterilized jars and roll up the lids.

Storage periods and rules

After cooling, eggplant and cucumber preparations are stored for the winter in the basement, pantry or on the balcony, depending on where you live.

The best storage option is the basement. It maintains the required temperature and humidity levels. Before storing, the basement must be cleaned, checked for mold and mildew, and if found, treated with fungicides. The presence of air exchange will help to avoid these troubles in the future.

In the apartment, preparations for the winter are stored in a special storage room (if provided for in the layout) or on the balcony.When equipping a pantry, you need to make sure that there are no heating devices that increase the temperature in a small enclosed room.

As for the balcony, it is also prepared for storage functions. To do this, shade the windows in the place where the preserved food will be stored for the winter or assemble a closed cabinet that allows you to protect the workpieces from direct sunlight. The temperature on the balcony should not fall below 0 °C, and it must be regularly ventilated to maintain the required level of humidity.

Another method of storage on a balcony or loggia is a thermal box. It consists of 2 boxes (large and slightly smaller). A layer of foam plastic is laid on the bottom of the first, thus forming a thermal cushion, then a small box is placed inside and the remaining gaps are filled with sawdust or polyurethane foam.

Conclusion

Eggplants with cucumbers for the winter are a simple but very tasty appetizer that goes well with both meat and fish dishes. It is easy to prepare, and the variability of recipes allows you to experiment with spices, seasonings and additional ingredients.

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