Saturday, 26 March 2011

Eggplants and What to do With Them

This year has been my most successful season ever for growing eggplants; a combination, I think, of hot weather plus more summer rain than usual.I am growing two varieties: long purple and black beauty.

Eggplants are definitely one of those vegetables that taste much better when home-grown.  I think this is because home-grown eggplants can be picked smaller when they are less bitter and have fewer seeds.

By the way, if you look closely at the eggplant photo below you can see my reflection in it!

At present I have an eggplant glut, so we are eating them at almost every meal.  Apart from adding eggplant to curries, risottos and other dishes wherever possible, my three staple preparations are:

  • Marinated, grilled eggplant: I either fry or grill the eggplants then marinate them as I did zucchinis in this recipe;
  • Eggplant parmigiana (no recipe: just egg-and-crumbed, then fried, layered in fresh tomato sauce and baked with grated parmesan or other cheese on top)
  • baba ghanoush (I'll publish a recipe in the next few days) 
 I always salt the black beauty eggplants before I cook them to draw out any bitter juices, but I don't bother with the long, skinny ones.

    What I would like to do is bottle some eggplant chutney or preserves.  I'm still looking for a recipe, so if you have one you can recommend I'd be delighted if you would share it with me!

    7 comments:

    Lisa said...

    moussaka takes some time to make, but it's well worth the effort.

    x

    www.theshoresthing.blogspot.com said...

    I am so jealous. It is still winter here...snowing. I have all of my seeds ready to start. I hope that mine turn out like yours. Fingers crossed. Your eggplants are gorgeous. Almost too pretty to eat.

    joolzmac said...

    Years ago I took some cooking lessons with a local Italian lady. One night we made Melanzane (pronounced Melan-zhanee). Basically pickled eggplant in oil. Here is a recipe I found online.

    http://www.paultuorto.com/giustogusto/?p=1227

    It has good step by step pics and looks delicious!

    Have fun, Joolz

    Leanne said...

    Ohhhh, eggplants are my favourite!

    I'm very envious of your photos - we managed to succeed in growing some, but only in a hothouse, with lots of love and care. I remember how well they grow in Adelaide, and miss my eggplant season!

    My favourite (although VERY unhealthy) way to cook them - slice them into rounds, then salt them (to draw out the bitterness). Wash off the salt after 20 mins., then pan fry them in olive oil. Serve hot with sweet chilli sauce and MORE salt! Yum.

    I think these work out to about 1000 calories a slice, and the salt must line even the healthiest person up for a stroke, but they are sooooooo good.

    Hmmm...maybe its a good thing I can only grow a few eggplants here in my hothouses!

    Lisa said...

    I remember mum used to crumb and fry them in rounds after salting, and soaking up the moisture with paper towel, and we'd eat them like that without the parmigiana.

    Our Red House said...

    Thanks for all these suggestions! I'm going to try a few of them.

    Kate

    Missy said...

    those are beautiful :)