Egg Plant

kardsharp
kardsharp Posts: 516 Member
edited November 28 in Recipes
I love these little vegies.

DO you have any healthy suggestions on how to cook them?

Replies

  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Fried in a batter, or just sliced and boiled.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    Boiled!? @TonyB0588 is that good??? I like them whole roasted or sliced into strips, baked, and topped with feta cheese
  • brisadeldesierto
    brisadeldesierto Posts: 41 Member
    For anyone who likes to try 'ethnic' food:

    Eggplant dip (Mtabbal) (serves ~ 4 people)

    1 kg eggplants
    4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
    4 tbsp tahini sauce (or replace half the tahini sauce by neutral yogurth)
    1 big clove of garlic, crushed on a mortar or finely chopped
    salt

    Roast the eggplants with skin, ideally on a grill. Second best option is directly over the burner (not the electric one) on low. If not, an oven works as well. You can replace the smoky flavour with liquid smoke, or by using wood chips in the oven. Once they lose their inside structure they're done. Then remove the skin by cutting them on half with a knife then using a spoon to take out the flesh. Make a mash with a fork (not a blender, that just makes them wattery). Add the rest of the ingredients and that's it.

    Optional spices: zaatar (mix of dried spices) or a mix of sumac (if you find), thyme, cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, sesame seeds.

    For finishing on top, all optional: touch of olive oil, fresh parseley, pomegranate seeds/molasses, chopped green onions, paprika.

    Great dip to go with raw cucomber/carrots/celery sticks since it's packed with flavour.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,004 Member
    Baba ghanoush
    https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/baba_ganoush_44415

    Miso glazed eggplant
    https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/05/japanese-miso-glazed-eggplant-nasu-no-dengaku.html

    Pasta alla norma (roast or air fry the aubergine instead of deep frying)
    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/jun/16/how-to-cook-the-perfect-pasta-alla-norma

    I also like to slice rounds, toss with a little olive oil and grill on a cast iron griddle pan.
  • kardsharp
    kardsharp Posts: 516 Member
    Thank you. I have new ways to cook that cute little purple veg.
  • mjbnj0001
    mjbnj0001 Posts: 1,272 Member
    From last week: grilled garlicy eggplant (not yet "done" in this picture). Granulated garlic powder, salt, pepper to taste, basted with oil, then grilled. Simplicity.

    i7k5cpms5bsd.jpg
  • mjbnj0001
    mjbnj0001 Posts: 1,272 Member
    laurabini wrote: »
    acpgee wrote: »

    Pasta alla norma (roast or air fry the aubergine instead of deep frying)
    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/jun/16/how-to-cook-the-perfect-pasta-alla-norma

    Pasta alla norma is delicious! I usually make it very light and cook the aubergine in the tomato sauce and ditch the cheese.

    another great pasta sauce is aubergine, shiitake mushrooms and lentil. Just chop everything and cook it on low heat till it's nice and soft and add fresh or chopped tomatoes and lots of garlic :)

    Pasta alla norma, seconded. Used a Jamie Oliver recipe, quite good.
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    Some version of ratatouille is my favorite way to eat eggplant! (I would dial down the cheese in this recipe.)
  • mariluny
    mariluny Posts: 428 Member
    For the best pasta sauce ever (in my opinion anyway) chop in small cube (the smaller the better, it will get a nice caramelization): eggplant, bell pepper, onion, zucchini or yellow squash, garlic, a few cherry/grape tomatoes, splash of oil, salt and pepper. In the oven at 400 for about 20-30 minutes. Blend all the veggies together, adjust seasonings and serve with pasta. It’s amazing!

  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    laurabini wrote: »
    acpgee wrote: »

    Pasta alla norma (roast or air fry the aubergine instead of deep frying)
    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/jun/16/how-to-cook-the-perfect-pasta-alla-norma

    Pasta alla norma is delicious! I usually make it very light and cook the aubergine in the tomato sauce and ditch the cheese.

    another great pasta sauce is aubergine, shiitake mushrooms and lentil. Just chop everything and cook it on low heat till it's nice and soft and add fresh or chopped tomatoes and lots of garlic :)

    Interesting to see you call it aubergine!! I knew there was another word for it.
  • meagan8376
    meagan8376 Posts: 94 Member
    Eggplant cut in slices then dipped in eggs then dipped in seasoned breadcrumbs. Put pasta sauce on top and shredded cheese. Then bake in oven.

    Vegetarian lasagna.
  • dsboohead
    dsboohead Posts: 1,899 Member
    crazyravr wrote: »
    Slice thick, salt and allow to sweat out the bitterness. Grill or roast and allow to cool. Use instead of bread for vegetable sandwiches :)

    How does salt sweat out the bitterness....what is the method?
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    dsboohead wrote: »
    crazyravr wrote: »
    Slice thick, salt and allow to sweat out the bitterness. Grill or roast and allow to cool. Use instead of bread for vegetable sandwiches :)

    How does salt sweat out the bitterness....what is the method?

    One way...lay the slices on a sheet pan lined with paper towels or clean dish towels. Sprinkle kosher salt on both sides of the eggplant. Top with more towels and put another sheet pan on top to help press liquid out of the slices. Let sit for an hour or two before using.

    It's not totally necessary for smaller eggplants or some of the daintier varieties (japanese, etc.) but it helps for larger ones (and especially ones that are big enough to have really visible seeds, etc.)
  • kardsharp
    kardsharp Posts: 516 Member
    I don't salt it at all, I don't find it bitter. Just picked up some Thai egg plant. They are little round things that apparently you can eat raw.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    My "quick and easy" eggplant recipe: dump your cubed eggplant into a pot with a can of diced tomatoes and seasonings--I use minced garlic and onion, oregano, and basil. Simmer until the eggplant is soft. This makes a nice stew that you can eat on its own, over rice, and/or with a protein.

    If you're looking for something a bit more complex but a more balanced meal, this is my other go-to eggplant recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/lentil-eggplant-lasagna/
  • Ninkasi
    Ninkasi Posts: 173 Member
    Cut it in medium-thick slabs, brush with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper it, then put it directly on the grill until they're cooked through and a bit charred. Do the same with a red pepper for variety and serve with crusty bread, salumi, and cheese. Mozzarella or ricotta is classic, but asiago or sheep's milk feta is good too.
  • mjrc2
    mjrc2 Posts: 121 Member
    Anyone ever use the small, egg-sized white eggplants? I have never seen them before this year. They were a free garden plant that was given to me-I have a ton of them and do not know what the best way to utilize them. They're little-the size of a small chicken egg.
  • mjrc2
    mjrc2 Posts: 121 Member
    kardsharp wrote: »
    I don't salt it at all, I don't find it bitter. Just picked up some Thai egg plant. They are little round things that apparently you can eat raw.

    Are they white? You eat them raw? Tell me more!
  • kardsharp
    kardsharp Posts: 516 Member
    They look like little melons. Green and white skin. White flesh. I haven't tried them yet - they are for tomorrow's dinner. I'll let you know how I like them.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,004 Member
    mjrc2 wrote: »
    Anyone ever use the small, egg-sized white eggplants? I have never seen them before this year. They were a free garden plant that was given to me-I have a ton of them and do not know what the best way to utilize them. They're little-the size of a small chicken egg.

    These are japanese eggplants, and the ones they get the name from because they actually look like eggs. I slice them, toss with olive oil and grill. In Thailand they eat them raw with a dipping sauce as crudite. In Thailand they also quarter them and toss into curries.
  • DoubleUbea
    DoubleUbea Posts: 1,115 Member
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    One way...lay the slices on a sheet pan lined with paper towels or clean dish towels.

    Do you rinse the salt off? I have seen recipes where after salting the food, letting it sit for a while, they rinsed the Kosher salt off.

  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    crazyravr wrote: »
    DoubleUbea wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    One way...lay the slices on a sheet pan lined with paper towels or clean dish towels.

    Do you rinse the salt off? I have seen recipes where after salting the food, letting it sit for a while, they rinsed the Kosher salt off.

    Dont rinse it off, just wipe it off with a paper towel.

    This. You don't need to use a ton of salt or anything and most of it will actually get rubbed off since the eggplant will be blotted by the paper towels while they sit. Anything left can be easily wiped off before using if desired.
  • elsie6hickman
    elsie6hickman Posts: 3,864 Member
    I found a low carb eggplant dish that I think is pretty good. You take a good sized eggplant and slice it in two. Scoop out the insides into cubes. Brown some ground chicken, with onion and garlic in a pan, and add the eggplant cubes. Add a 14oz can of tomatoes, drained. Let this cook for about 5 minutes. Place the eggplant bodies on a lightly oiled sheet pan, fill the cavities with the chicken mixture. Top with some cheese - low fat Italian blend (but really you can use anything you like. Pop it into a 400 hundred degree oven for about 40-45 minutes. I like to add Italian seasoning to the chicken mixture, but you could add fresh basil or oregano if you have it. You could add a bit of crush red pepper flakes if you want to kick it up. But as I am writing this, I don't see any reason you couldn't skip the Italian components and go Asian, less the tomatoes.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Slice them in half, place them in a pan with a bit of water and bake for about 20-30 mins upside down.
    Remove from oven, let them cool, and using a spoon remove enough flesh so they look like small boats.
    In th meantime, in a skillet heat a bit of oil and brown slices of onions and garlic over low heat. Estimate about 1 onion and one garlic clove per eggplant. When they onion is golden brown, add some tomato juice or chopped fresh tomatoes, a pinch of salt and sugar, and a bit of allspice or cinammon. Cook a few more minutes.
    Oil a baking dish, place your little boats inside, fill with the onion mixture, add some feta cheese on top if you prefer, poor a bit of tomato sauce in the pan (pasta sauce will do) and bake for 30-60 mins, depending on how tender you like the final result. You might need to add some water in the pan, so check every 20ish minutes or so.
    The nice part is this tastes even better after a day, and it can be eaten without reheating.
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