Eggplant is one of the more delicious vegetables out there. Under that thick skin lies an interior that's creamy and delicious, and cooks up even softer. Yet it still retains a meaty texture that's very similar to other proteins. It's for this reason that eggplant is so commonly seen in vegetarian dishes.
But you definitely don't have to be a vegetarian to eat it! Anyone can enjoy the deliciousness, and the many vitamins and nutrients it has to offer. Plus, there are so many ways to enjoy it! Just take a look at the seven different ways to cook eggplant below. Choose your favorite one to start with and once you see how tasty it is, move on to the others. You can get really creative with it!
1. Roast it
Like any other vegetable, roasting eggplant brings out its richness and natural sugars. It needs very little oil and can be done in a number of ways. You can cut the eggplant right in half, place it cut-side down on a baking sheet and bake it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes. When done, you can scoop out the soft flesh and use it in dips, spreads, or just as a delicious side dish.
But you don't have to roast the whole thing at once if you don't want to. You can also cube it or slice it and toss it with a little olive oil before again baking at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This time bake for about 20 minutes, making sure to flip the individual pieces halfway through cooking time.
2. Grill it
Like most things placed on the grill, grilling eggplant enriches it with a subtle smoky flavor. Let the eggplant sit in a marinade or coat it with your favorite spices, herbs and seasonings. Place it on a hot grill for about 5 minutes then flip and cook just until the eggplant is browned on the other side.
3. Braise it
Eggplant does well in long, slowly braised dishes because it still becomes buttery soft but it also retains its shape, keeping it from falling apart in your stew or slowly braised chicken dish. One of the most well-known dishes that stars eggplant is ratatouille. Most braised dishes will call for the eggplant to keep its skin, which is edible, as it helps the eggplant further keep its shape. You will likely have to cube it though, before adding it as your recipe calls for.
4. Fry it
If you're just starting out eating eggplant, you may want to fry it. Deep-fried foods are just super comforting and can bring a certain familiarity to an otherwise unknown ingredient. While you can bread it, eggplant does especially well when it's battered. A simple batter of flour, salt, a little lemon juice, and a liquid which can be water, tonic water, or even beer will work wonders with eggplant. Once the batter is ready, you can slice the eggplant into medallions or cut them up into fries. Either way, it's going to be scrumptious!
5. Make burgers or meatballs
Sure, Portobello mushrooms may get all the glory when it comes to vegetarian burgers, but eggplant can also sub in for burgers and meatballs and really shine. Just roast the eggplant until it's soft, scoop it into a bowl with some flour or bread crumbs and seasonings, and then shape into whatever form of protein you're craving. Once the eggplant is formed, bake it again at a high heat and enjoy your creative vegetarian dish!
6. Stir fry it
Eggplant is a very popular ingredient used in stir-fries, especially when those stir-fries take on an Asian flair. Just cube the eggplant, cook in hot oil over high heat, and saute until golden. You can typically add eggplant into the dish at the same time you add other soft vegetables such as mushrooms or zucchini.
7. Create zoodles
Zucchini is the most common vegetable to make zoodles with. After all, it's how zoodles got its name - turning zucchini into noodles. But if you have a spiralizer you can turn any vegetable into zoodles, and they'll all be delicious. If you don't have a spiralizer but still want to make a super creative dish, just use a vegetable peeler to cut the eggplant into long thin ribbons and use them the same way you would zoodles, by boiling them, stir-frying them, or enjoying them raw in a salad!
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