Eggplant and Pepper Tian on Fried Eggplant

Name: Eggplant and Pepper Tian on Fried Eggplant
Ingredients: 4 cups small dice eggplant, lightly salted to release excess water and bitterness; 2 cups peeled and brunoised red pepper; 2 cups peeled and brunoised yellow pepper; 1/2 cup brunoised apple-wood smoked bacon; 5 garlic cloves, crushed; 2 teaspoons chiffonaded basil; 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 teaspoon freshly picked thyme; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Fried Eggplant, recipe follows; 1 Japanese eggplant; Salt, to purge the eggplant; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup flour, seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper