Chicken with Roasted Eggplant Purée

Hunkar begendi is a classic Turkish dish of roasted eggplant purée enriched with a creamy béchamel and Parmesan cheese. In the nonkosher kitchen, this rich purée is often spread on a platter and surrounded by meatballs in a tomato sauce. Esin Eden’s recipe for pilicli patlıcan adds richness to the eggplant purée without the addition of dairy. The braising juices from the chicken are incorporated into the roasted eggplant, adding body and concentrated flavors and staying kosher