Roasted Eggplant Sandwich

Name: Roasted Eggplant Sandwich
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Tanzanian
Ingredients: 1 medium (680 g) globe eggplant*; ¼ cup (60 ml) plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided; 1½ teaspoons ground cumin; 2½ teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt, divided; 1 teaspoon sumac; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; ¼ cup (35 g) cherry tomatoes, quartered, optional; 2 soft Demi baguettes,* halved lengthwise; 2 soft Demi baguettes,* halved lengthwise; 1 cup (250 g) hummus, preferably Cedar’s; Eggplant, use bell peppers or squash (reduce the amount of oil used); Eggplant, use bell peppers or squash (reduce the amount of oil used); Eggplant, use bell peppers or squash (reduce the amount of oil used); Eggplant, use bell peppers or squash (reduce the amount of oil used); Honey, use maple syrup; Honey, use maple syrup; Red onion, use yellow onion; Red onion, use yellow onion; Parsley, use cilantro or mint; Parsley, use cilantro or mint; Parsley, use cilantro or mint; Demi baguettes, use 1 long baguette, 4 ciabatta rolls, or 4 angel pitas; Demi baguettes, use 1 long baguette, 4 ciabatta rolls, or 4 angel pitas; Demi baguettes, use 1 long baguette, 4 ciabatta rolls, or 4 angel pitas; Demi baguettes, use 1 long baguette, 4 ciabatta rolls, or 4 angel pitas; Pomegranate molasses, use balsamic glaze or very-good-quality thick balsamic vinegar; Pomegranate molasses, use balsamic glaze or very-good-quality thick balsamic vinegar; Pomegranate molasses, use balsamic glaze or very-good-quality thick balsamic vinegar

Preparation info

Serves
2 to 4

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr

Appears in

Third Culture Cooking

By Zaynab Issa

Published 2025

About

During Ramadan, for the many long drives to our mosque in Woodside, Queens, my sister, Fatema, would make a very simple pita wrap as a to-go, travel-friendly iftar. I can still picture her today: rushing around the kitchen trying to make enough wraps for all of us, she’d quickly swipe hummus on either side of a warmed pita pocket and fill it with romaine lettuce and sliced red peppers and red onions, wrap it in foil, and place a small plastic container filled with balsamic vinaigrette along

Ingredients

Sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzania
Main course
Vegetarian
Gluten-free
Ramadan

Ingredients

Method