Siete modos de guisados se guisa la merenjena. La primera de las guisá es la vava de Elena Ya la hace bocaditos y la mete’n una cena Esta comida la llaman comida de merenjena. A mi tio, Cerasi, que le agrada beber vino: Kon el vino, vino, vino, Mucho y bien a él vino. La segunda que le guisa es la mujer del Shamas, La cavaca por ariento y la hinchi d’aromat Esta comida la llaman la comida la dolmá. A mi tio, Cerasi... La tracerá que la guisa es mi prima Ester de Chiote. La cavaca por arientro y la hinchi d’arroz moti. Esta comida la llaman la comida la alomondrote. A mi tio, Cerasi... La alburnia es saborida en color y en golor. Ven haremos una cena mos gozaremos los dos Antes que venga el gosano y le quite la sabor. A mi tio, Cerasi... En las mesas de la fiestas siempre brilla el jandrajo. Ya l’hacemos pastelicos, ellos brillan en los platos, Asperando a ser servidos con los güevos jaminados. A mi tio, Cerasi... La salata maljasina es pastosa y saborida. Mi vecina la prepara con mucho aceite de oliva, Estos platos acompañan a los rostros de gallinas. A mi tio, Cerasi... La setena que la guise es mejor y mas janina. La prepara Filisti, la hija de la vecina. Ya la mete en el forno de cabeza a la cocina con aceite y pimienta ya la llama una meyina. A mi tio, Cerasi...
There's seven different ways to cook an eggplant, the first one to make it is Elena's grandmother, she cuts it into small pieces and serves it for supper. They call this meal: a dish of eggplant. To my uncle, Cerasi,
who enjoys drinking wine:
With the wine, wine, wine,
much and well for him is wine. The second one to make it is the wife of the synagogue janitor she hollows it and fills it with herbs, and lots of rice they call this meal: a dish of Dolma. To my uncle, Cerasi... The third one to make it is my cousin Esther di Chioti she hollows it from inside fills it with lots of rice this meal is called: a dish of Almondrote To my uncle, Cerasi... The Alburnia is delicious in both color and smell, come, we'll prepare supper we'll enjoy it together, before the worm comes and takes the flavor away. To my uncle, Cerasi The Maljasana salad, is thick and delicious, my neighbor prepares it with a lot of olive oil, these dishes are eaten with remainders of hen. To my uncle, Cerasi... On the tables of the feasts the Jandrajo always shines we make little cakes; they shine in their plates, waiting to be served with hard boiled eggs. To my uncle, Cerasi... The seventh way to make it is the best and delicious way it's prepared by Filisti, my neighbor's daughter she puts it in the oven, in an open dish with oil and pepper and they call it: Meyina. To my uncle, Cerasi...
From Arboleras - De las altas mares, Ecos Sefardies de la isle de Rodas, cd1, 2009
This special copla is from Rhodes. This version describes seven ways to prepare eggplants: Elena’s grandmother chops them before serving, while the wife of the shamash makes dolma by filling the eggplants with spiced rice. The eggplants can fill dumplings served with huevos haminados, the slow-cooked eggs of Shabbat. We must savor the delicious alburnia, a meat and eggplant stew, when served to the table before the worm arrives and stops our enjoyment. The repeating chorus, which may have migrated from Italy, declares: “My Uncle Cherasi enjoys much good wine.” In the Elena Romero's "Coplas Sefardies" (Ediciones El Almendro, 1989) there are thirty six documented verses.
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