Eggplant Caviar makes a great party appetizer. It's an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.

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Eggplant caviar makes a great party appetizer or “zakuska”. It’s an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner, maybe a mid-day snack and when you can’t sleep at night because you can’t stop thinking about this eggplant caviar ;). I’ve been testing several eggplant spread recipes and so far this is my favorite. I learned to make this eggplant caviar from Natalia K, a friend from our worship team.

Natalia uses Pace Picante sauce in her recipe. I made it with the roasted salsa we posted recently which is seriously amazing.

Back on track… I’m thinking the eggplant caviar would work if you use your favorite store-bought salsa in it (but you should still try the roasted salsa – you’ll probably get hooked like we are). P.S. After everything is chopped, total cooking time is under 10 minutes. Nice. 

Ingredients for Eggplant Caviar Spread:

2 medium (1 1/2 to 2 lbs) eggplants
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 small/2 medium carrots, grated
7 garlic cloves, pressed
Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt (I used sea salt)
1/4 tsp Pepper
3/4 to 1 cup salsa (we used our roasted salsa) Natalia Uses Pace Picante Sauce and you can buy Mild, Medium, or Hot depending on your affinity for spice.

Eggplant Caviar_

How To Make Eggplant Caviar Spread:

1. In a Medium skillet, heat 2-3 Tbsp oil over medium high heat. Add onion and carrot and saute until soft (7 min), stirring often. Add pressed garlic and saute another 1-2 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.

Eggplant Caviar_-2Eggplant Caviar_-9

2. In a second, large skillet, heat 4-5 Tbsp oil over medium/high heat. Add finely diced eggplant (you could make bigger dice but it’s more spreadable this way). The Vidalia Chop Wizard makes chopping so much easier. Sprinkle in 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, stir, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes stirring often until eggplant is very soft (7 minutes). Add more oil if the eggplant is sticking to the pan.

Eggplant Caviar Spread-1

3. Once it’s soft, stir in 3/4 to 1 cup salsa and your onion/carrot mix. Mix well and heat for another minute until the spread is hot. Serve with toasted bread or your favorite crackers.

Eggplant Caviar makes a great party appetizer. It's an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.
Eggplant Caviar_-15
Eggplant Caviar makes a great party appetizer. It's an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.

We took this stuff over to my sisters house for dinner and it went fast. Everyone loved it!

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Eggplant Caviar Spread Recipe

5 from 4 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Eggplant Caviar makes a great party appetizer. It's an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.
Eggplant caviar makes a great party appetizer or "zakuska". It's an old Russian favorite. You can enjoy it as a spread over toast for breakfast, lunch or even dinner, maybe a mid-day snack and when you can't sleep at night because you can't stop thinking about this eggplant caviar ;). I'm thinking this recipe would work if you use your favorite store-bought salsa in it (but you should still try the roasted salsa we have posted on the blog - you'll probably get hooked like we are). P.S. After everything is chopped, total cooking time is under 10 minutes. Nice.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 -12 as an appetizer
  • 2 medium, 1 1/2 to 2 lbs eggplants
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 small/2medium carrots, grated
  • 7 garlic cloves, pressed
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt, I used sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper
  • 3/4 to 1 cup salsa, we used our roasted salsa recipe or you can use Pace Picante Sauce and you can buy Mild, Medium, or Hot depending on your affinity for spice.

Instructions

  • In a Medium skillet, heat 2-3 Tbsp oil over medium high heat. Add onion and carrot and saute until soft (7 min), stirring often. Add pressed garlic and saute another 1-2 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In a second, large skillet, heat 4-5 Tbsp oil over medium/high heat. Add finely diced eggplant (you could make bigger dice but it's more spreadable this way). Sprinkle in 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, stir, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes stirring often until eggplant is very soft (7 minutes). Add more oil if the eggplant is sticking to the pan.
  • Once it's soft, stir in 3/4 to 1 cup salsa and your onion/carrot mix. Mix well and heat for another minute until the spread is hot. Serve with toasted bread or your favorite crackers.
  • We took this stuff over to my sisters house for dinner and it went fast. Everyone loved it.
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Eggplant Caviar Spread
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Rasma
    February 5, 2023

    This version of “Poor man’s caviar” was given to me by a Russian friend. Microwave the eggplant, scrape it off the skin, dice, add very large amount chopped fresh dill, wine vinegar, olive oil, crushed garlic, crushed tomatoes ,salt, pepper, cayenne to taste. Serve with crackers, bagel chips, toasted baguette or spread it on buttered rye bread.

    Reply

  • Nonna G
    December 16, 2017

    Hi Natasha,,,, I just made the eggplant spread and it’s terrific,,,, just like mom made it. The only difference is I mashed the eggplant after it got soft, omg,,,, yum!! Just had it on some black bread. I am in heaven!!! And it’s healthy as well . Thanks, Natasha!!!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 16, 2017

      You’re welcome Nonna! I’m happy to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your excellent review with other readers!

      Reply

  • Lora
    June 18, 2016

    Hi Miss Natasha- This is my first time discovering your blog. I am first generation Ukrainian as my folks immigrated in 1951 and I was born in the US in 1953. I was looking for a cabbage roll recipe(as I do not recall my Mother’s specific ingredients…like she had any…haha) and came upon your site. Just FYI for the eggplant caviar…my Mom also added green pepper and used tomato sauce for the liquid portion vs picante sauce. I have bookmarked your website for future recipes!! Thank you for carrying on the tradition!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 18, 2016

      Thank you for bookmarking! I hope you find many new favorite recipes here 🙂

      Reply

  • Tzivia
    June 13, 2016

    Yo Natasha made this just a few days ago and omg am almost done with it love eggplant and carrots didn’t have salsa so I added hot sauce instead and it came out really very yummy and delish will be making this again darlin cheers

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 14, 2016

      Trivia, that’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 😀

      Reply

      • Tzivia
        June 14, 2016

        Ur very welcome Natasha luv anytime love it with bread and it’s even really very superb bu it self

        Reply

  • Anita
    December 6, 2015

    I loved this! Thank you for a fabulous recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 6, 2015

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for a fabulous review 🙂

      Reply

  • Albina
    December 5, 2013

    Hi Natasha,
    It says the recipe serves 8-12. Visually, how much does this recipe produce? About 2-3 cups total? more? less? Trying to plan on the right quantity for a large crowd I’m serving tomorrow… Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 6, 2013

      I wish I had measured it. I want to say it’s at least 3- 4 cups.

      Reply

  • Oksana
    October 7, 2013

    Do you have a recipe for eggplant ikra?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 7, 2013

      A few readers wrote in with recipes for that. I will definitely be doing some testing in my kitchen. Thanks!

      Reply

  • Nina
    October 2, 2013

    Hi, Natasha,
    I always do the same way except home tomatoes instead salsa and add red pepper.Almost the same. But this year I bake eggplants in the stove by just cutting them in half before making IKRA. It fast and easy. After eggplants cooked cooled them a little bit and removed the skin. Its removed very easy too. Chopped or blended. Than cooked more 15-20 more min all ingredients add garlic, basil, dill, parsley from my garden add sea salt pepper. It turns so JUMMY. Try this way.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 2, 2013

      Is your’s more of a spread? It sounds amazing the way you described it. MMMMM 🙂

      Reply

  • Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
    September 15, 2013

    Natasha, I just saw this eggplant caviar on FoodGawker, and I knew it must’ve been your recipe! This is one of my most favorite spreads, I love eating it together with some good salami (kolbasa) on a slice of good berad. And, also drinking plum kompot with it. 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 15, 2013

      Oh I love salami. That sounds like a really good combo!

      Reply

  • Pat
    September 14, 2013

    We prefer our baklajanaya ikra with a more pureed texture. Once the ingredients are cooked, my mother-in-law passes everything through a meat grinder. This was one of the first things I asked her to show me how to make! Yummy!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 14, 2013

      Now I have to ask, do you add mayo to it too? I’ll have to put it through my meat grinder one of these days. This one was diced really finely so it was still very spreadable.

      Reply

      • Pat
        September 16, 2013

        HA! Actually, one of the few recipes where mayo is NOT involved! 🙂

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          September 16, 2013

          🙂 I know it, we Slavic people are notorious for mayo use 😉

          Reply

  • Nella
    September 14, 2013

    I just got some nice eggplants at farmers market, was looking for recipe 🙂 how long does this stay fresh?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 14, 2013

      It stays fresh up to a week in the fridge 🙂 It was gone in a day and a half.

      Reply

  • Iryna
    September 14, 2013

    Hi Natasha, I also love making this, though I cook it longer to soften up eggplant. Adding salsa – what a great idea! Thank you.
    I use just any tomatoes in a can.
    Here I started to make it like a version of Ratatouille to cater to my husband’s taste – by adding zucchinis.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 14, 2013

      You’re welcome 🙂 I’ve added zucchini before and they turned out great.

      Reply

      • Iryna
        September 17, 2013

        Thank you, the taste is good!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          September 17, 2013

          You’re welcome Iryna 🙂 I”m so glad you liked it!

          Reply

  • Julia @Vikalinka
    September 14, 2013

    Yum!! I just love that every household in Russia and Ukraine would have their own version but everyone loves it just the same. Cool to see your recipe, I just posted my own version last week. Tis the season, I suppose because I just made it again last night but very chunky! Never heard of the mayo version though. It must be the Soviet Union edition. 😉

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 14, 2013

      I’m going to check yours out!… Must be but Slavic people sure do love mayo in stuff. 🙂 I do too 😉

      Reply

  • Olena@iFOODreal.com
    September 13, 2013

    Never heard of this version of eggplant caviar. Interesting. I know 2 methods: 1. Roasted whole eggplant mashed and mixed with spices. 2. Chopped eggplant sautéed with onions and mayo. Should try this one. Any way eggplant with garlic is the bomb dot com.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 13, 2013

      I have to try the mayo method next. One of my readers on instagram mentioned that also. Sounds amazing too!

      Reply

    • Iryna
      September 14, 2013

      Never heard of Mayo! Interesting!
      The first one, with tomatoes, we usually called – Raw EC

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 14, 2013

        I’ve made it with fresh tomatoes too with good results. 🙂

        Reply

      • Iryna
        September 17, 2013

        Oh, talking to myself here. I remember making this –
        fry some slices of eggplant and stack them with tomato slices on skewer. Mayo with garlic and parsley are the spread between the layers.
        Is that it, Olena? I love it!

        Reply

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