Ingredients

• 4 medium eggplants (1 kg total)
• salt
• oil (for frying)
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 1 green pepper, seeded, sliced
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, peeled Salt
• 1/4 tablespoon hot chili pepper
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 cups yogurt (drained overnight)
• garlic clove (or more)

Instructions

1. Cut the stems from eggplants and leave peel on. Cut into slices 1 cm (1/2-inch) thick. Spread on a tray and sprinkle slices liberally with salt. Leave for 30 minutes, then dry well with paper towels.

2. Pour enough oil into a deep frying pan (with lid to fit) to cover base well. Fry eggplant until lightly browned on each side. Do not cook completely. Lift onto a plate when browned. Add more oil to pan as required for remaining slices. As oil drains out of eggplants on standing, return this to the pan and add onion. Fry gently until transparent. Remove to another plate.

3. Place a layer of eggplant back into the pan. Top with some sliced onion, green pepper rings and tomato slices. Repeat using remaining ingredients and adding a little salt and the chili pepper between layers. Pour in any remaining oil from eggplant and onion and add the water. Cover and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until eggplant is tender.

4. To make the chakah. You first need to drain the yogurt over night. Buy a cheese cloth. You can find at Wal-Mart in the craft section, Place plain yogurt inside the cheese cloth over a bowl in the fridge overnight. Squeeze excess liquid out and only use the remaining yogurt inside the cheese cloth.

5. Combine chakah ingredients and spread half of the sauce into base of serving dish. Top with vegetables, lifting eggplant carefully to keep slices intact. Leave some of the juices in the pan. Top vegetables with remainder of chakah and drizzle vegetable juices over it. Serve with Kabaub and Lawash (flat bread).