How to Cook Eggplant
A member of the nightshade family, eggplant is a firm fleshed produce with a dark purple skin and white spongy interior. Eggplant is a nutritious food and it’s skin has proven cancer fighting properties. Vegans and vegetarians alike covet it because of its firm meat like texture and ability to absorb flavors. Eggplant is a versatile ingredient that blends well into everything from sandwiches to stir fry and rice dishes. Furthermore, it does fine as a standalone main ingredient in entrees such as eggplant parmesan or eggplant with roasted red peppers. In this article we hope to teach you how to cook eggplant by showing you two easy eggplant recipes.
When shopping for eggplant, some things to look for include flesh that is firm yet spongy. Additionally, the flesh of the eggplant should not be too wrinkly or covered with brown pit marks or bruises. Over time, you will develop an ability to gauge when an eggplant is acceptable to purchase as opposed to when they are too old or damaged. While some people advise that you should peel the outer purple layer off of the eggplant, this ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference.
While the outer skin is where most of the pesticides are located, it is also where many of the cancer fighting phyto-nutrients are. So, it is really a trade off. However, if you do choose to keep the outer skin on (and don’t buy organic) make sure to give it a thorough scrubbing prior to consumption. The easy eggplant recipes listed below provide fast, simple ways to enjoy eggplant.
Garlic Eggplant Sandwiches, With Roasted Tomato Aioli
Serves 2
For this recipe you will need:
- 1 large eggplant thoroughly washed or peeled
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, more if needed
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 pinches basil
- 1 jar roasted tomato aioli
- 1 loaf of crusty artisan bread
- Provolone cheese
Step 1
Slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch rounds.
Step 2
Pour the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and add the garlic and spices. Sauté until the garlic is slightly golden.
Step 3
Add the eggplant, sprinkle with the salt and sauté until tender and slightly brown.
Step 4
How to Cook Eggplant
Another fun variation on the garlic eggplant theme is to sauté the eggplant as previously mentioned but, instead of making sandwiches, make an artisan pizza using eggplant, fresh milk mozzarella cheese, sundried tomatoes and artichokes. A tomato sauce could also be used or you purchase a jar of pine-nut pesto and spread that on the crust instead. If you choose to make a pizza in this fashion, however, don’t overcrowd it with toppings. Otherwise, it won’t cook properly and it won’t taste right. Given that all the flavors used for this recipe are delicate, it’s all about balance.
Garlic Eggplant Pizza
Serves 2
For this recipe you will need:
- 1 package pizza dough mix
- 1 package fresh milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 package sundried tomatoes
- 1 jar artichokes in oil
- Garlic eggplant
- 1 jar pine-nut pesto or tomato sauce
Step 1
Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees and prepare the garlic eggplant as previously directed. Only after it’s cooked, slice it into bite sized pieces according to your personal preference.
Step 2
Prepare the pizza dough mix according to the instructions then roll it out onto a greased pizza pan or a pizza stone.
Step 3
Spread an even amount of the pine-nut pesto or tomato sauce onto the crust, leaving a one inch ring around the edge bare.
Step 4
Break off chunks of the fresh milk mozzarella cheese and scatter them across the surface of the crust as you see fit. You want there to be a good amount of cheese but not enough so that the entire surface is taken up.
Step 5
Arrange the eggplant, artichokes and sundried tomatoes on the pizza until you are satisfied. Remember not to overcrowd your pizza or it won’t turn out right. You want to enjoy a nice balanced flavor profile.
Step 6
Place the pizza in the oven and bake for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling slightly. Once it is done, take the pizza out of the oven and allow it to cool before serving. Once it has cooled, cut it into equal pieces and enjoy.