February 25, 2015

Eggplant Recipes


If you like eggplant, you’re in luck! I’m going to share two of my favorite eggplant recipes plus one from my heroine, Dani Hart from 30 Seconds.


Eggplant Sandwich

Need:
Eggplant, sliced
Onion, sliced
Tomato, sliced
Sub bun (Or whatever type of bun you prefer.)
Mayo
Mustard
Garlic powder
Dried basil
Olive Oil

Instructions:

1. Season both sides of the eggplant slices with garlic powder and dried basil. Set aside.

2. Heat olive oil in a pan/skillet and brown the onions slices. Once the onions are tender, set them aside and add the eggplant.

NOTE: Eggplant soaks up oil, so you may have to add a little more oil while cooking it.

3. When the eggplant is tender, set it aside again and add the sliced tomato to the skilled. Briefly warm the tomatoes, but don’t leave it on the heat too long or they’ll get mushy.

4. While you toast the halved buns, warm up the onions and eggplants.

5. Mix a squirt of mustard in a tablespoon of mayo (to taste) and spread the mixture onto the toasted buns.

6. Stack the cooked vegetables onto the buns and ENJOY!

NOTE: You can add green pepper, zucchini, and whatever else you like. This sandwich is great with your choice of French fries or soup.

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Eggplant Pasta

Need:
Eggplant
Pasta
Cherry tomatoes
Olive Oil
Pasta Sauce (Your choice.)
Basil (Fresh is best for this.)

Instructions:

1. Fill a pot about half-way with water and set on the stove to boil. While you’re waiting, dice the eggplant into cubes. You can leave the skin if you want (I do). And halve the cherry tomatoes.

2. Heat olive oil in a skillet (Make sure it doesn’t get too hot!) and add the diced eggplant. When the eggplant is soft, add the halved cherry tomatoes.

3. When the water boils, add the pasta. After the pasta is tender, drain it and return to the pot. Combine the vegetables and pasta sauce of choice to noodles. Tear up basil leaves and add to the pasta. Heat it thoroughly.

4. Spoon out portions onto a plate or into a bowl. Enjoy!

NOTE: This pasta is great with garlic bread.

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EXCERPT:

She sipped her coffee and examined Blake over the top of her mug. “I want to cook dinner for you tonight.” He looked at her, a forked sausage halfway to his mouth. Smiling to herself, she cut a triangle from her stack of pancakes.

 “Why?”

“You have to eat.” She snapped a crispy piece of bacon in half and took a bite.

“It’s against the rules.”

“Eating?” She raised a brow at him. “I’m not asking for a date, nor am I going to poison you. I make awesome eggplant parmesan.”

“I don’t have eggplant,” he said, shoveling a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth as if that would end all further discussion.

“We can pick one up.”

“Excuse me?” He looked at her. “You aren’t going anywhere. Not with Red and his men after you.”

Thanks to you, she thought.

“Correction. They’re after us. I highly doubt we’d see them while picking out eggplant, unless they get a craving for cucumbers.”


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Dani’s Eggplant Parmesan

Need:
Eggplant
Olive Oil
Basil (Fresh, none of that dried crap as Dani would say.)
Mozzarella Cheese
Tomatoes
Pasta Sauce

Instructions:

1. Slice eggplant and lightly brush both sides with olive oil, set in a warm skilled and cook each side for about three minutes until lightly golden. Set aside in a baking dish.

2. Place a few fresh basil leaves onto each slice of eggplant.

3. Slice the mozzarella (as thick as you want) and layer on top of the eggplant. Then slice the tomato and place on top of the mozzarella. Add another basil leaf on top of the tomatoes.

4. Sprinkle the whole dish with parmesan cheese and pour pasta sauce over the layers of eggplant, cheese, and tomato.

5. Bake this in the oven for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

6. Let cool and enjoy!

NOTE: Excellent with cheesy garlic bread.




QUESTIONS: Do you like eggplant? What’s your favorite eggplant recipe?


63 comments:

  1. This reminds me, I should make eggplant enchiladas again... eggplant is much more healthy than corn tortillas

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    1. I've never used eggplant in place of corn tortillas, but that's a great idea!

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  2. I've never tried to cook eggplant. It always sounded more complicated than that.

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  3. Sounds like a rather tasty recipe :-) me and wifey will have to try it sometime.

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  4. Like Alex, I've never tried to cook eggplant, but now you have me wanting to give it a shot. These all sound really good!
    Great excerpt too.

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    1. Eggplant can be used in so many recipes. :) A lot of people think it's tricky to cook, but it's really not. I hope you try cooking it sometime. :) And thanks!

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  5. Sounds easy enough, but never ever have eaten it.

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    1. Another food you've never tried. Shame, shame! :P

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  6. Eggplant omelet. Have you tried it? It's delish.

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  7. I have never eaten eggplant but now I'm curious.

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    1. It actually doesn't have much of a flavor, so it tastes like whatever you put it in. :)

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  8. Mmm, those sound delicious! I really enjoy the eggplant parmesan at Olive Garden. I think the key to those type of dishes is finding a firm eggplant and slicing it thin so it cooks better.

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    1. I've never tried the eggplant parmesan at Olive Garden.l Hmm. I;m going to have to order it the next time I'm there. :)

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  9. Love eggplant. That pasta recipe sounds delicious and easy--the perfect combination!

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  10. Now that I'm thinking of it, I don't think I've ever eaten eggplant. I probably just refused to eat it as a kid and now have never gotten around to it. Loved the excerpt!

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    1. As a kid, I didn't like it much. But as an adult, I love it! :)

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  11. I've been looking for more ways to cook eggplant, and shazam! Here it is! Thanks for whipping up this post. :)

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  12. You know, I've never really gotten into eggplant, but maybe I should give it a try?

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    1. I think you should give it a try. You never know if you'll like it.

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  13. YUM! I hardly ever cook eggplant. I remember mention of her recipe in the book. Of course, every heroine should have a go to recipe to charm her hunky man! I want to try your sandwich and Dani's eggplant parmesan. Are they in season right now? Thanks for the recipes, Chrys and AWESOME excerpt from 30 Seconds!

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    1. Hehe! You're right. The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. ;) I think eggplant is more in season from July to October, but I never let that stop me. :)

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  14. I love eggplant, but I've never cooked any myself, since I've been told it's kind of challenging to prepare it just right. I used to love eggplant parm, but I'll have to find a recipe that doesn't use any cheese since I eat almost no dairy now. I'm thinking soft tofu mixed with nutritional yeast and spices, which is what I use to mimic cheese in my vegan lasagna. I also like eggplant dip, which tastes like some kind of exotic salsa.

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    1. Yes, finding a recipe for eggplant parmesan without cheese could be tricky. Although I'm a vegetarian, I still eat dairy. I love my cheese! :) I've never tried eggplant dip. I'm going to have to try that!

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  15. I love eggplant, although mine never turns out as good as what you can get in a restaurant.

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    1. Mine doesn't look as pretty either, but the taste is still good. :)

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  16. YUM! I love when you include recipes with your excerpts and posts. So fun :)

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  17. I've never been good at cooking eggplant. Must be why I don't cook it that often. Maybe if I actually follow a recipe, it'll turn out good!

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    1. I have to follow recipes because I'm scared I'll screw it up. lol

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  18. Really nice excerpt!! I love Eggplant with Jasmine rice, fresh butter and a bit of Parmesan cheese.
    Thanks, Chrys for the recipes (smile).

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  19. I do like eggplant, have not had in awhile because son did not likd it, but now that he moved out, I am going to make it soon. I think I will try that eggplant pasta recipe. Great excerpt from your book, intriguing.

    Betty

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    1. When you have kids, you have to cook what they like, don't you? But now you can make it, so go eggplant crazy! :D

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  20. I like eggplant and we have lots of trees so we keep getting bucket full every few days...sharing along with neighbors! Thanks for the recipe. Will try it now.

    Great excerpt Chrys. I was reading one book, Real Life Rum by Mickey J Corrigan and saw the blurb of 30 Seconds at the end. I got excited...thinking hey I know this one!

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    1. How lucky you are yo have eggplant trees!

      That's neat! Thanks for telling me that. :D

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  21. I've never been a fan of eggplant, but I've heard that in the right recipes, you don't even taste it.

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  22. I love eggplant and appreciate all the recipes I can gather.

    When I lived up North, it was a very Italian town and the little ladies of the neighborhood made the best breaded/fried eggplant. Watching my neighbor, Philomena, prepare it, I was shocked to see that she sliced it thin and salted it - then put it between newspaper! She weighted it down and removed it later, after the water had leeched out.

    It sounds crazy, but that was the best eggplant ever.

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    1. I know salting it takes out the water and bitterness, but newspaper? That's new to me. :)

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  23. Eggplant parmesan sounds delicious! And a healthy snack option.
    Thanks for the recipe!

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  24. You know, I've never used eggplant in a recipe. I should remedy that.

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    Replies
    1. Eggplant can pretty much be added to anything. :)

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  25. Yes I do like eggplant! But I hardly ever cook. Which is good because when I do cook my family thinks it's a real treat. I like these recipes, especially the eggplant pasta. I may make that one if I can get an eggplant. I don't have anyone after me (as far as I know) but the snow might make it a challenge to to get to the grocery.

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  26. I just recently found that I really like eggplant. I think I didn't like it the first time I made it several years ago is because I had no idea what I was doing! LOL

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    1. LOL! I didn't like it as a kid but I grew to love it. :)

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  27. I love pasta - and the excerpt! Now I'll have to know what becomes of the spirited girl with an obvious plan! I may also be more vigilant at the grocery store :-)

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt. It was fun to write...Dani was fun to write. :D

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  28. Love the excerpt...so thrilling!

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  29. Oh my...this is mouth-watering. I love eggplant.

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  30. Omg I'm starving now haha. I am obsessed with eggplant!! I'm a vegetarian so it's very versatile for me (not to mention delicious.) lol the first time I cooked with it I was amazed how much olive oil it absorbs, like a sponge!

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    1. I'm a vegetarian too (but I still eat dairy). Eggplant is like a sponge! That's why you have to keep an eye on the oil as it cooks.:)

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  31. Hi Chris .. I used to use eggplant a lot and grew them in South Africa ... so I was always using them up somehow. The best for me is eggplant parmiggiana - but then I also made ratatouille, as well as moussaka ...

    Great thoughts here ... and yes they do absorb oil .. I used to salt mine first ... but get bored with that too .. cheers Hilary

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    1. You lived in South Africa? I didn't know that. :) Those recipes sound ambitious. I'm not sure if they'd turn out right for me.

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