How to Make Salted Eggplants

Salted eggplants

Wash small, ripe eggplants, dry them, trim the stems, and make a slit through each one with a knife.

Boil them in salted water and let the excess water drain.

Place spices in the bottom of a jar, then add the eggplants, stuffing them with garlic crushed with salt.

Pour in the boiled, cooled brine.

Let the jars sit at room temperature to ferment, then transfer them to a cool place no warmer than 46°F.

Slice the eggplants and drizzle them with oil before serving.

For a 3-liter jar: 3,000 g eggplants; 600 g water; 90 g salt (30 g for boiling, 15 g for the garlic); 8–10 garlic cloves; bay leaves; and celery.