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Georgian Pickled Cabbage with Tomatoes and Eggplant Preserve

A delightful Georgian dish combining pickled cabbage, tomatoes, and eggplant in a tangy, savory sauce.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 jars
Course: Preserve, Side Dish
Cuisine: Georgian
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

Vegetables for the Pickling Process
  • 1.8 kg 1.8kg white cabbage, shredded
  • 2.5 kg 2.5kg ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
  • 3 pieces 3 red bell peppers (450g / 1 lb), sliced into strips
  • 2 large 2 large carrots (300g / 10.6 oz), julienned
  • 1 bunch 1 bunch fresh parsley (30g / 1 oz), chopped
  • 3-4 pieces 3-4 fresh dill umbrellas (flower heads)
  • 6-8 cloves 6-8 cloves garlic, sliced
Seasonings for the Pickling Process
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon black peppercorns per jar
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon salt per jar
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons sugar per jar
  • 1.5 tablespoons 1.5 tablespoons 10% vinegar per jar
Ingredients for Eggplant Preserve
  • 2 kg 2kg eggplants, cubed
  • 1 kg 1kg red bell peppers, diced
  • 2 pieces 2 hot peppers (20g / 0.7 oz), finely chopped
  • 1 kg 1kg onions, diced
  • 600 g 600g carrots, grated
  • 2 kg 2kg ripe tomatoes, blended
  • 30-40 cloves 2-3 heads garlic (30-40 cloves), minced
  • 1 bunch 1 bunch fresh dill (30g / 1 oz), chopped
  • 1 bunch 1 bunch fresh cilantro (30g / 1 oz), chopped
  • 250 ml 250ml vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3-4 pieces 3-4 bay leaves

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Shred the cabbage finely, cut tomatoes into wedges, slice the red bell peppers, julienne the carrots, and chop the fresh parsley.
  2. Wash and sterilize large glass jars to ensure food safety for your preserves.
  3. Begin layering the shredded cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, parsley, dill umbrellas, and garlic in the sterilized jars.
  4. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns, salt, and sugar into each jar, allowing for uniform flavor distribution.
  5. Pour 1.5 tablespoons of vinegar into each jar and cover the layered vegetables with boiling water, filling to the brim.
  6. Seal the jars tightly with lids and let them cool completely before storing in a cool, dark place.
Cooking Eggplants
  1. Cube the eggplants, sprinkle with salt, and let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out moisture. Rinse thoroughly before cooking.
  2. Blend the ripe tomatoes until smooth to create the sauce base for the eggplant preserve.
  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot, and sauté the diced onions, grated carrots, and diced red bell peppers until they soften and become fragrant.
  4. Stir in the cubed eggplants, cooking until they start to soften and gain some color.
  5. Pour in the blended tomatoes, add salt, sugar, and bay leaves, mixing everything well.
  6. Stir in the minced garlic, chopped dill, and cilantro for added flavor and aroma.
  7. Ladle the hot mixture into sterilized jars, leaving some headspace, and seal tightly.
  8. Allow the jars to cool completely at room temperature before storing them in a cool, dark place.

Notes

This dish pairs well with grilled meats, hearty stews, or as part of a mezze platter. Enjoy cold or at room temperature.