September is when aubergines and peppers at the market are at their cheapest and tastiest, and a starter made from them is wanted every day: with potatoes, with meat, or simply with bread. This version is made without a frying pan and without any oil at all, yet comes out juicy and bright.

The recipe was shared by the cooking page Smachno ta Korysno on Facebook.

The vegetables are baked here, not fried. The temperature and time below are a guide — ovens differ, so judge readiness by the vegetables themselves.

What you need

  • aubergines — 4;
  • bell peppers — 4;
  • herbs (dill, parsley) — a bunch;
  • garlic — 5 cloves.

For the marinade:

  • soy sauce — 6 tbsp;
  • lemon juice — 2 tbsp;
  • apple cider vinegar — 2 tbsp;
  • honey — 2 tsp;
  • salt — to taste.

How to cook

1. Prepare the vegetables. Wash the aubergines and cut them lengthwise into four to six long wedges, skin on. Cut the peppers into quarters and remove the seeds and stalks.

2. Bake. Lay the vegetables in a single layer on two trays lined with baking paper (or bake in two batches) and put them into an oven preheated to 200 °C for about 20–25 minutes — until the aubergines are soft and the peppers begin to char at the edges. Do not brush anything with oil: the vegetables release their own juice.

3. Slice. Let the vegetables cool until warm. Cut the aubergines and peppers into finger-length strips and put them in a deep bowl.

4. Make the marinade. Mix the soy sauce, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and honey, add the crushed garlic and the finely chopped herbs. Taste it — soy sauce is already salty, so add salt carefully and only if needed.

5. Marinate. Pour the marinade over the vegetables, stir gently so as not to break the strips, cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Overnight is best.

Serve cold. Keep covered in the fridge. An air fryer will do instead of the oven.

As a reminder, last time Smachna Bucha featured a courgette “pâté” — there is not a gram of meat in it, and an ordinary loaf tin gives it its shape.

Nota bene

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