The humble eggplant is one of the more divisive vegetables out there.
Many people have been scarred by an unfortunate run-in with eggplant – maybe it was undercooked, making it spongey and unpleasant.
And yet there are plenty of reasons to love this nightshade veg. There are plenty of health benefits too – eggplants are packed full of antioxidants, they’re high in fibre and contain a range of nutrients said to support heart health.
Plus – most importantly – when cooked right, they are sweet and delicious. Here are some of the best ways to eat them.
1. In baba ganoush
Hummus is a picnic staple, but what if you want to mix up your dip game this summer? It could be time to try baba ganoush – especially because it’s very easy to make.
Grill your eggplant until the skin is charred and the flesh tender – peel and discard the skin, and chop or blend the rest. Mix with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and chilli powder if you want a kick, and you’ve got an impressive dip for pita or crudités.
2. On the barbecue
Eggplant and the smoky flavour created by barbecuing are a match made in heaven. Long gone are the days when we’d pop some sausages on the grill and hope for the best. Now, it’s all about having a rounded offering, with vegie dishes sitting alongside carnivore meals.
Either slice your eggplant in half lengthways, cut into slices or cubes and brush with a bit of oil, and place on the barbecue. Serve drizzled with your favourite sauces, as part of a kebab, or in a salad or burger.
3. Slathered in miso
Eggplants soak up flavour like a sponge, and pair beautifully with the umami nuttiness of miso. This is a quick, easy and healthy midweek meal. All you have to do is halve an eggplant lengthways, score the flesh and brush on a miso glaze (you can whip one up by simply loosening miso with a bit of water, or have more fun with flavour by mixing it with rice wine vinegar and sesame oil).
Bake in the oven – and when the eggplant is nice and tender, you’re good to go.
4. In moussaka
Bring a bit of sunshine to your plate with this classic Greek dish. Traditionally, moussaka is made up of layers of potato, lamb mince and soft, sweet eggplant in a tomato-based sauce, baked with bechamel on top.
You can customise it to your taste (for example, swap lamb with lentils for a vegetarian version) but the eggplant is always the star of the show.
5. Breaded and fried
This might not be the healthiest option out there, but there’s nothing wrong with indulgence every so often. Cut eggplant into slices, dip in egg wash, cover in breadcrumbs and fry. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside – you won’t believe how they can be transformed.
Serve thin slices with aioli as a snack, or thicker so they can take the place of a meat patty in a burger.
Are you a fan of eggplant? What’s your favourite way to cook them? Let us know in the comments section below.
– With PA
Also read: Discover the power of purple vegies