Lay them on a paper towel and salt them.

Let them sit for 30 minutes

Put the jasmine rice in a bowl and cover with water

Let it sit for 30 minutes

Meanwhile, brown the meat with salt and pepper

Sauté the pine nuts with 1 tbl vegetable oil

Combine with meat and set aside

On low heat add chicken stock, tomato paste and salt and pepper to taste

Whisk it all together until paste completely dissolves

When the eggplants are done straining wash them off with water and pat dry

Heat up oil and fry eggplants (OR the healthier version is to skip the initial part about straining them and just brush the eggplants with oil. sprinkle with salt and put in a preheated broiler until they are brown on each side).

When the 30 minutes is over for the rice, sauté for 1-2 minutes in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and mix in 1 tablespoon tomato paste (this is optional but I feel it gives the rice a little more flavor and makes the rice more moldable and easier when flipping upside down).