For most of us, eggplants are the big, awkwardly shaped purple vegetables we see at the grocery store and keep walking by. After all, what can we even use eggplant for? How do you cook it? While these veggies may seem a little more useful for people who are vegetarians or vegans, even they can be confused when it comes to the cooking process. What’s the best way to prepare these things?
As it turns out, there are actually tons of different ways to use eggplant in many different dishes—and all of them will spice up your cooking! No matter what you choose, we promise that it’s all very easy to learn and do right at home. As an added bonus, you may just end up eating more vegetables in the process!
Without any further ado, here are eight great ways to cook with eggplant.
1. Roasted Eggplant
Roasting eggplant is one simple way to put this plant to good use. In general, this will result in a rich and creamy texture as the eggplant breaks down in the oven. To do it this way, preheat your oven to 400 degrees and throw your eggplant in there on a baking sheet with the skin on. Cook it for about 30 minutes. Although you can do a very simple version of this by slicing the eggplant in half, brushing it with oil and then eating it with salt and pepper, you can also leave it whole and then scoop out the soft insides for use in Indian-style recipes as well… we leave that up to you.
2. Eggplant Fries
If you love French fries but you’re trying to cut back on calories, consider making some eggplant fries instead! To pull this off, cut your eggplant into fry-like strips. Next, throw the fries with some yogurt and spices—use about a 1/3 cup of yogurt and season it with parsley, garlic powder, paprika, ground cumin, onion powder, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar (use about 1/4 teaspoon of each spice and two tablespoons of the vinegar). Roll the fries in breadcrumbs and bake in the oven at 450 for 10 to 15 minutes, turning them halfway through. Serve with your favorite sauce!
3. Grilled Eggplant
Grilling your eggplant is a step up from using the oven and adds another layer of smokiness to the flavor. To do this one, simply slice your eggplant up, oil it and sprinkle it with your favorite herbs and spices. After that, throw it on the grill and let it break down for a truly delicious spring snack.
4. Eggplant Stew
Eggplant can also be a great addition to a stew or a soup! To do this, heat oil in a saucepan and heat up some onions. Add garlic, cubed eggplant, chili pepper and soup stock, stirring it all together. Cover it and reduce the heat to low, simmering until the eggplant gets tender. At the end, stir in parsley, celery leaves and soy sauce and then serve! You can check this out for a fuller recipe.
5. Fried Eggplant
Of all the methods, this one is on the less healthy side—but it’s also absolutely delicious. It’s also really simple to do. First, heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and have your eggplants sliced up. Dip your slices in egg and roll them in breadcrumbs and then fry them in your hot oil. Fry them on each side for two to three minutes and until the slices turn golden brown, flipping them carefully with a pair of tongs. Drain the slices on paper towels and enjoy.
6. Eggplant Burgers
Although most of us wouldn’t think of using eggplant to make burgers, it actually works better than you might think. To pull this off, preheat your oven to 450 and roast your eggplant by cutting it in slices and brushing with olive oil. Once it’s done, mix the softened eggplant with onions, beans, bell pepper, garlic, hummus and whatever spices you want. Shape the resulting batter into patties and bake them on a sheet at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Take them out, dress them and enjoy.
7. Sautéed Eggplant
Stir-frying or sautéing eggplant is another easy way to prepare eggplant. This one is about as simple as it gets: heat oil, chop eggplant and cook it for 10 minutes over medium-high heat. The question of what you’ll mix it with is up to you—maybe try it with bok choi, baby broccoli and garlic. Still, experiment and put in whatever you like!
8. Baked Eggplant Chips
This one is a good substitute for potato chips. To pull this off, slice up your eggplant very thinly and sprinkle them with salt to help them dry out. Let them dry in a bowl overnight. On the next day, heat your oven to 350 degrees and get a bowl mixed with olive oil, paprika, turmeric, cayenne and salt. Brush your pieces with the oil and throw them on a baking tray in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until they’re brown and crispy!
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