Step 1

Please note that due to the large amount of eggplant, I divided the cut eggplant strips into 2 bowls and each step outlined below is repeated with each bowl.

Step 2

Wash eggplant and dry well. Remove some of the peel. We removed strips of peel and left about half of it on. This is really a question of preference, you can remove all of it, none or half as we did.

Step 3

Slice each eggplant into approximately 1 cm rounds and then into matchsticks of about 3/4 cm.Place in 2 large non reactive bowls adding course salt in between layers of eggplant.

Step 4

Place a dinner plate over the eggplant strips and weigh the plate down with a heavy object of your choice. This can range from a large heavy can, a full bottle of oil or vinegar (in a plastic bottle!) or I happen to have a few paving stones handy that I later covered in a plastic bag. Let sit on your counter for 24 hours. After a few hours I switched to a salad plate as you need the weight of the heavy object to press down on the eggplant.

Step 5

After 24 hours, a dark colored water will surround the eggplant strips and they will have greatly reduced in volume. The salt in the eggplant draws out the water and bitter juices from the eggplant. This is what you are looking for.

Step 6

Drain the eggplant in a large colander. Place the colander over a bowl and once again, place a plate over the eggplant and weigh it down with your heavy object. This is to squeeze out as much of the water as possible.

Step 7

After 2 or 3 hours, transfer the eggplant back to your large bowl and stir in white vinegar, (dividing the amount specified between both bowls.) Once again, place your plate over them and weigh them down for another 24 hours.

Step 8

You're now ready to place your eggplant in jars. Sterilize your jars and lids following the easy method outlined here. I used 3 -500 ml jars.

Step 9

Drain the eggplant strips in your colander and as you did the previous day and weigh them down once again for 2-3 hours to drain the vinegar. Next, squeeze out as much water as possible by taking a handful of eggplant strips at a time and squeezing them with your hands. You'll be surprised to see how much more liquid comes out of them!

Step 10

Place the squeezed eggplant back in your bowl. Toss with oil; slivered garlic; dried chili pepper torn into small pieces; dry oregano and, if desired, a few fennel seeds. Once again the ingredients listed are divided between both bowls.

Step 11

Drizzle a little oil at the bottom of each jar to coat it. Begin packing in the eggplant strips using a fork and pressing down firmly to pack the eggplant in as tightly as possible. Continue until you reach approximately 2.5 cm below the top of the jar.

Step 12

Pour in enough oil to cover the eggplant but not too much so that the oil reaches the lid. Place the lid on the jar, but not too tightly yet. Let the jars sit for a few hours and if you notice they have absorbed more oil and are no longer completely covered with oil, remove the lid and pour in extra oil. Now place the lid on tightly. Continue with the other jars.

Step 13

See notes below for storage methods.