Anyone have any great eggplant recipes for an eggplant HATER?

[babyleaps]

I shop at my local produce store, and they are very kind and set aside boxes of non-perfect produce for my chickens.  About half of the veggies are so nice that I use them in my own kitchen, and I've taken homemade bread and jam back to the store owner to thank him.

Today's box yielded EGGPLANT. Ugh. The one veggie I can't stand. I think it is a

Comments

[viking_food_guy]

I have two eggplant dishes that have turned the heads of eggplant haters. :) The first is a middle eastern dish. Shallow-fry slices of eggplant until tender (you may want to salt them in a collander for a while first, then wash of the salt and juice, makes them less bitter) then apply a sauce of pomegranate molasses, garlic, salt and olive oil. Sooo good. The second is a Japanese version. Fry eggplant pieces (smallish, usually) in oil until tender, then top with a sauce of white miso, cooking sake (or sherry) and a little sugar. Ivan is a determined eggplant avoider, and he likes both of those.

[babyleaps]

I can definitely tell that the contents of your pantry are more exotic than mine, but can see the idea of something sweet and salty as a way to serve eggplant....hmmmm....let me see what I can come up with....

THANKS!

[lelhindi]

have your tried grilling eggplant? It makes the texture firmer - just slice, brush with oil and salt and grill like a steak. Also have you tried baba gannoush (I can't spell). Its a dip like hummus so the texture problem would go away. Another option is moussaka - a cassorole of (from memory) rice, eggplant, the kind of beef that is little pieces (I can't remember what that is called) and tomato sauce.

[babyleaps]

Will try grilling it. I have a BBQ that has been languishing lately...

thanks for the ideas! I am going to try the baba ganoush, too! :)

[gulenay_barb]

Babaganoush! roast on the bbq and make the babaganoush! I have a recipe in my lebanese cookbook at home....but i bet you can find one online. I understand that roastng theeggplant is specific for Lebanese, and my favorite feature

[babyleaps]

After looking at the recipe, I will definitely have to try this one. Will report back with family verdicts !

It was great to see you last weekend.

Hugs,
Tanya

[smithwick]

Another vote for babganoush, add a lot of garlic and ooh, it's just loverly.

Egggplant :Mushroom-style

[fjorlief]

The first time I had eggplant and liked it, I was in my early twenties. It was something Italian that translated means "eggplant:mushroom style" and is quite easy to make. Ingredients are eggplant, tomato, garlic, olive oil, parsley and salt. You prep everything first, and the cooking part is quick and easy

Re: Egggplant :Mushroom-style

[fjorlief]

Just wanted to emphasise that you need to use ENOUGH oil, and the eggplant needs to be REALLY cooked. If so, it will all be luscious and tender. If not, it will be tough and harsh and resilient, and not in a good way.