5 Delicious Eggplant Recipes

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Discover the deliciousness of eggplants! Eggplants are a great food to cook with as they are incredibly versatile and can be cooked in many different ways. In this article, we will be exploring five tasty eggplant recipes you can easily make at home.

From eggplant parmesan to eggplant curry, these recipes will help you create delicious meals your whole family will love. So, get ready to spice up your cooking game with these eggplant recipes Mediterranean cuisine has to offer!

1. Eggplant Parmesan  

Parmigiana di melanzane is a traditional Italian dish with layers of fried eggplant, cheese and tomato sauce. To make this delicious dish, you will need just a few ingredients:

  • Eggplants.
  • Tomato sauce.
  • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
  • Olive oil.
  • Fresh basil.

Follow these steps:  

  1. Begin by slicing the eggplant into thin slices and lightly fry in a pan of hot oil. Once the eggplant is golden, place the slices on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
  2. In a baking dish, start to layer the eggplant slices, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and tomato sauce. Top with fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven for around 30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
  3. Once the Parmigiana is cooked, serve with a side of fresh greens and a glass of Italian red wine.

2. Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic Glaze    

This dish will have your taste buds tingling. The eggplant is cooked on the grill and topped with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze. To make this dish, you will need:

  • 1 large eggplant.
  • Olive oil.
  • Balsamic vinegar.
  • Honey.
  • Garlic.
  • Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme.

Follow these steps:  

  1. Cut the eggplant into thick slices, brush them with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant over medium-high heat until it is lightly charred and tender.
  2. While the eggplant is cooking, mix the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, and fresh herbs in a small bowl to make the glaze.
  3. Once the eggplant is cooked, brush it with the glaze and cook for an additional minute. Serve the grilled eggplant warm with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and enjoy.

3. Eggplant Lasagna    

For this recipe you will need:  

  • 2 large eggplants.
  • 1 onion.
  • 2 cloves of garlic.
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.
  • 500 g of minced meat.
  • 2 cans of peeled tomatoes.
  • 500 g of lasagna.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Salt and pepper.

Follow these steps:  

  1. To prepare this, first you need to cut the eggplants into thin slices. Once the eggplants are cut, season them with salt and pepper, then fry them in a pan with a little olive oil.
  2. In a separate pan, sauté chopped onions and garlic, and then add the minced meat. When the meat is cooked, add the tomato paste and the canned peeled tomatoes. Simmer everything for 10 minutes.
  3. Once the ingredients are ready, preheat the oven to 180 °C. Grease a baking dish and cover it with a layer of eggplant slices. Then add a layer of the tomato sauce, and finally a layer of lasagna.
  4. Repeat the same process until you have used up all your ingredients, finishing with a layer of sauce and grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes and serve warm.

4. Eggplant and Tomato Curry  

For this recipe you will need:  

  • 1 large eggplant
  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 onion
  • 2 teaspoons of curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 cup of water.

Follow these steps:  

  1. Start by chopping the eggplant, tomato and onion into small cubes. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the chopped vegetables and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Add the curry powder, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, cayenne pepper and salt. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Serve hot with rice or naan.

5. Eggplant Caponata  

Eggplant caponata is a traditional Sicilian recipe. It requires simple ingredients such as:

  • Eggplant.
  • Celery.
  • Olives.
  • Capers.

Follow these steps:  

  1. To prepare the dish, begin by cutting the eggplant into cubes and sautéing it in olive oil. Then, add celery, olives, and capers.
  2. Simmer the vegetables in olive oil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. To finish, add a splash of vinegar and sugar to give the dish a slight sweet and sour flavour.
  4. To make the dish even more delicious, try adding Parmesan cheese. For a Parmesan stuffed eggplant variation on the traditional recipe.