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Home HOW TO

My Grandma’s Method of Canning Eggplant

Sarah Davis by Sarah Davis
September 5, 2016
34
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My grandma always made the best canned foods….

Now, if you’ve never heard of this vegetable spread, let me tell you now that it’s unbelievable. It’s delicious on bread or even as a topping on rice for a quick vegetarian meal. It is also excellent as a sandwich spread and perfect for your stockpile.

This recipe is for a large batch and is intended for canning. You can cut it back if you want a smaller batch for immediate consumption.

The basic ingredients for the recipe, with quantities, can be found below:

  • 8 lbs fresh eggplants
  • 6 lbs red peppers
  • 2 lbs onions
  • 2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Bay leaves to taste
  • 2 cups tomato paste
  • 2 cups olive oil

ingredients

Over an open flame (gas stove or grill), completely blacken the skins of the eggplants and peppers.

peppers

Peel skins off immediately. The easiest way to get the last bits off is to do it under a slow-running faucet.

Puree each of the three vegetables separately in a food processor. Place each in a separate bowl when you are finished.

Place oil and onion in a large pot and sauté onions for about 4 minutes over medium-low heat.

onion

Add eggplant and pepper.

add peppers

Cook until a thin layer of oil remains on top, and when a spoonful of spread is removed, only the oil should run off the spoon, not the spread.

After the composition reaches the boiling point, add the tomatoes then taste and adjust salt, pepper, and bay leaves to meet your tastes.

add all

After 1 hour at medium-high heat, let it rest for 30 minutes. Spoon the mixture into sterilized jars of your choosing. It is easiest if they are all the same size.

add jars

jars

After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them.

spread

Store them in your pantry, root cellar, or any cold, dark place you have in your house. They should last for at least one year.

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Tags: DIYFood CrisisHow topreparedness
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Comments 34

  1. Dropzone says:
    9 years ago

    Hi sounds like a great spread, some of the instructions are out of step, but I got that figured out. So to finish this process is it water bath or pressure canning…. and for how long?

    Thanks

    Did you like this comment? 1
    Reply
    • Sarah Davis says:
      9 years ago

      After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them. Sorry for the confusion.

      Did you like this comment? 3
      4
      Reply
      • SANDRA31650 says:
        9 years ago

        OVEN CANNING IS UNSAFE AND NOT RECOMMENDED ANY MORE. THIS SHOULD BE AT THE VERY LEAST WHATER BATH CANNED AND EVEN THEN I WOULD PROBABLY ADD A TEASPOON OF VINEGAR. ALSO IT’S NOT RECOMMENDED TO USE OILS WHEN CANNING, IT CAN EFFECT THE SEAL EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER PROCESSING OR AT A LATER DATE. GRANDMAS METHODS ARE NO LONGER RECOMMENDED.

        Did you like this comment? 14
        9
  2. Mary says:
    9 years ago

    I don’t get get it. You don’t can them? You go from having them in the oven with lids off to storing them. I’m sure I’m missing something.

    Did you like this comment? 5
    Reply
    • Sarah Davis says:
      9 years ago

      After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them. Sorry for the confusion.

      Did you like this comment? 3
      3
      Reply
      • Wow says:
        7 years ago

        That is really dangerous. You’re going give someone botulism.

        Did you like this comment? 7
        8
    • BIoChemFoodSafety says:
      5 years ago

      They don’t “can” that thickened food because 1 – you don’t precook food that much when it will be correctly PRESSURE CANNED

      2 – you can’t can eggplant anyway.

      Did you like this comment? 1
      3
      Reply
      • John says:
        8 months ago

        If you aren’t comfortable with this recipe don’t use it. The FDA is basically canning for dummies with lawyers. Grandma’s around the world still do this to this day. Amish still can meat by water bath method and the world still goes around. I ate a three year old can of pressure canned chicken yesterday and it was delicious! See what the FDA thinks of that, it’s NOT in the book. I’m just just saying everyone relies so much on government and tv media to tell them how to live and what to believe and they can’t truly be trusted to do that. There’s a whole world out there, I recommend everyone be well read and don’t be afraid to live a little…again well read though, lol. Do what you will. 👍🏼

        Did you like this comment? 1
  3. pelagia says:
    9 years ago

    I am wondering if you meant, in the last step, to have the lids on for the 10 minutes in the hot oven? Usually canning, either water bath, oven, or pressure cooker, requires that the last step have the lids on. Your final photo, while very pretty, still has the lids off. Otherwise, sounds great. Is this a form of babaganoush?
    thanks. Please send me an email answer.

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Sarah Davis says:
      9 years ago

      After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them. Sorry for the confusion.

      Did you like this comment? 0
      0
      Reply
  4. Paula says:
    9 years ago

    So before canning, put in the oven. How do you can? Pressure Can?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Sarah Davis says:
      9 years ago

      After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them. Sorry for the confusion.

      Did you like this comment? 1
      3
      Reply
  5. TJ says:
    9 years ago

    When in the oven for last 10 mins do you put lids on so will seal?
    If not when do you put the lids on?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Sarah Davis says:
      9 years ago

      After placing the lids, put the jars in a preheated oven for one hour at 220°F. Turn it off and leave the jars in the oven to cool completely before storing them. Sorry for the confusion.

      Did you like this comment? 0
      1
      Reply
  6. Nievy says:
    9 years ago

    I also want to know about sealing process?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  7. Sue says:
    9 years ago

    these directions are very confusing ..are the tomatoes grilled also? you put the mixture into jars then say to put them into boiling water and show them upside down..boil first? then fill and boil?? then open and put in oven at 180 for 10 min.? then cool in oven? i do A LOT of cooking and this has my head spinning..lol

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  8. Lady says:
    9 years ago

    I would like your reepies
    thanks Willie

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  9. Bob Gettings says:
    9 years ago

    This recipe and procedures need a serious rewrite.

    Did you like this comment? 1
    1
    Reply
  10. Jama (Jay-mah) says:
    9 years ago

    The recipe seemed straightforward to me. You have a sterile product because it has just boiled/cooked an extended period; the jars you are using are sterilized so it sounds like hot packing. Place the lids simply means put the luds and rings on the jars (duh). Then to really ensure success the ‘canning process’ is the oven time which achieves high temps to make sure everything has stayed sterile and to make sure the lids seal. How is this confusing?

    Did you like this comment? 20
    4
    Reply
    • SANDRA31650 says:
      9 years ago

      FOR ONE THING ITS TOTALLY UNSAFE..CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL STATE CO-OP…IM SURE THEY WILL TELL YOU ALL THE SAME THING.

      Did you like this comment? 3
      6
      Reply
      • k says:
        5 years ago

        In the article, it states that this is an old method from her grandmother and to do your own research and make your own choices. If you don’t like it, move on. Don’t be a Karen.

        Did you like this comment? 22
        2
  11. Ajvernier says:
    9 years ago

    This is not shelf stable. Using an oven is not food preservation, or canning.

    Did you like this comment? 2
    2
    Reply
  12. ICANDOITMYSELF says:
    9 years ago

    You people cannot follow Directions! Are you really that dumb? You are going to die, from lack of self sufficiency!

    Did you like this comment? 4
    2
    Reply
    • Minion says:
      9 years ago

      U r rude and have no business on this site, I surely ask myself what is wrong with you to post such an ignorant comment…shame on u….go away and don’t contaminate legit sites.

      Did you like this comment? 1
      4
      Reply
  13. ICANDOITMYSELF says:
    9 years ago

    HMMMMM Hot water i.e. HEAT…makes it sterile and safe but the OVEN i.e. HEAT does not?

    Did you like this comment? 4
    1
    Reply
    • Your an asshole says:
      7 years ago

      Yeah well you have pressurized heat over 220 degrees to wliminate botulism you fucking twat. Read a book sometime.

      Did you like this comment? 5
      4
      Reply
  14. Minion says:
    9 years ago

    Well I’m in the process of making this I’ve been cooking it for hrs and never reached the stage where the oil separates or floats, mine looks like thick soup and not like the pictures of noticeable chunks, screw it I’m going to water bath can it…..u also need a certain amount of acidity to make it preserve every canned recipe calls for vinegar or lemon juice, I put lemon juice to make it safe to preserve, I think this recipe is missing alot of info and is flawed….sorry, I’m 58 yrs old and not a rookie in the kitchen

    Did you like this comment? 5
    1
    Reply
    • SANDRA31650 says:
      9 years ago

      FINALLY..SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO CAN SAFELY!!!

      Did you like this comment? 2
      2
      Reply
  15. Farmer Phyl says:
    8 years ago

    It is not safe to use the oven canning method, nor is it safe to can eggplant. There are some foods that become so dense during the cooking and canning process that it is impossible with home canning equipment to reach a temperature at the center of the food in the jar that is high enough to kill botulism (which means that botulism could kill you!!) This recipe sounds delish and would be safe if frozen. Don’t risk killing yourself or your family over a few dollars of unsafe food.

    Did you like this comment? 2
    1
    Reply
    • miss says:
      7 years ago

      I don’t know. You can safely can chunks of pumpkin and winter squash not puree though, so maybe if we don’t blend the egg plant instead cut it into little chunks and pressure can it for at least an hour. I think it would be safe that way

      Did you like this comment? 2
      1
      Reply
  16. TheCanningTeacher says:
    6 years ago

    This recipe MUST be pressure canned. And since we don’t know how long it should be processed in a pressure canner, – and it has olive oil in it, which is not done with home-canning………….

    Even if this were JAM made of ACIDIC food, which it isn’t of course, your recipe is dangerous. No one puts jars in the OVEN and considers them processed. This is a dangerous recipe.

    Did you like this comment? 2
    3
    Reply
  17. Deb says:
    5 years ago

    I think what she is saying put the lids on before putting them in the oven. Then put the jars in a preheated oven of 220 degrees for 1 hour. After one hour shut oven off and leave the jars in until the oven cools down. Supposedly the jars will seal then you store them in a cool place.

    Did you like this comment? 3
    Reply
  18. BIoChemFoodSafety says:
    5 years ago

    I’m horrified. People will die from this. Remember Trini and Carmen’s restaurant and their salsa incorrectly “canned”? You dont’ even PRETEND to can this stuff. YIKES. Please delte.

    Did you like this comment? 1
    2
    Reply
  19. Bill in Houston says:
    4 years ago

    The spread is called Ajvar. It is also known as “vegetable caviar.” I first found it in a little store that sold Albanian groceries.

    Did you like this comment? 3
    Reply

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