What to do with the eggplant

[glennagirl]

I have some lovely eggplants from a local farmer, and not a really good idea about what to do with them.  I'm freezing some of it (parboiled, cooled and frozen according to instructions) but still have some that need to be prepared

Comments

[glennagirl]

I have enjoyed a bumper crop of yellow and zucchini squash, courtesy of friends, and prepare them as you have suggested. I add tomatoes and onions to that and even a splash of parmesan occasionally. I wasn't sure about using eggplant like that, so thanks for giving me that inspiration.

[pickledginger]

Ratatouille! Start with diced onion and crushed or minced garlic, sauteed to translucency in a splash of olive oil. Add chunks of eggplant, tomato, zucchini or other summer squash, sweet bell pepper (hotter peppers optional), and mushrooms. Capers or olivrs also can be nice. Simmer until soft and fragrant. Season to taste. Serve in a bowl with a spoon and a sprinkle of cheese, or over pasta, or over rice, or with pita chips, or in a sandwich roll, or as a pizza topping, or over scrambled eggs or tofu. Great stuff.

Slice into strips or cubes or rounds (1.5 to 2 fast-food French fries thick); dredge in flour seasoned with salt and pepper or with cumin and coriander, or thyme and parmesan; let sit until flour begins to become moist; fry for tempura-like effect. (Or bake - different but nice.)

Grill or broil slices until meltingly soft inside. Wow.

[glennagirl]

Now I'm hungry. Thank you.

[pickledginger]

:-)

If you have an oven, long thin slices of eggplant and summer squashes also make a great substitute for noodles in lasagna.

[just_ann_now]

I do a ratatouille kind of thing too, but dump all the ingredients in the crock pot and let it do its thing on low all day long. Easy-peasy.

[sushidog]

Baba ganoush is good. I use aubergine in a North African-style vegetable stew, with onion, carrots, peppers, courgettes/zucchini, tomatoes, and chick peas/garbanzos, flavoured with cumin, coriander, cayenne, and turmeric, and served with couscous.

[glennagirl]

This sounds really delicious. I suppose utilizing whatever is on hand would also work in a rustic stew like this.

[icelolli]

This is by far my favorite eggplant dish right now:

Grilled Eggplant Recipe with Garlic-Cumin Vinaigrette, Feta, and Two Herbs
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2007/09/grilled-eggplant-recipe-with-garlic.html

The combination of mint and cilantro? Pure genius! If you don't want to deal with a grill, you can use a grill pan or just cook the eggplant in a skillet on each side until tender. I personally haven't grilled the eggplant yet for this recipe, but I think it would make it even better.

[icelolli]

Oh, and I eat the leftovers cold in a salad, either on its own or over greens. A great and delicious way to get your vegetables!

[glennagirl]

I need to enlarge my herb garden with these inspirations to spur me on ;) thanks, this sounds wonderful.

[claudine]

Stir fry with soy sauce and minced meat.
As with stir fry, fry white onions till fragrant, then drop the chopped garlic in, then put in your meat, soy sauce, salt and lastly eggplant :D

[claudine]

ARGH I meant to type minced TOFU, sorry :D;;

[glennagirl]

I'm sure those who prefer meat are glad you mentioned it ;) Thank you, it sounds delicious.

[claudine]

Bad me and mixing up my comms. :) It's a traditional Chinese dish, with meat. But it also tastes fantastic with tofu and bell peppers.