# What to do with eggplant?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [July 16, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063 "2022-07-16T20:42:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/1 "2022-07-16T20:42:04Z")
Last weekend at the farmer’s market I noticed eggplant was apparently in season, as several vendors were selling it. So I decided to buy some to make moussaka. Except I couldn’t remember how much I needed, and erred on the side of buying too many.
So now what do I do with the rest of the eggplant? It’s not something I cook all that often; I pretty much only use it in moussaka, and that’s something I only make very occasionally, like maybe once a year. So I am at a loss as to what to do with the rest.
I mean eggplant parmesan comes to mind, except that feels too similar to moussaka, which I have had enough of this week.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/2 "2022-07-16T20:59:06Z")
Make [_baba ghanoush_](https://www.themediterraneandish.com/baba-ganoush-recipe/) or [_mutabal_](https://www.whiskaffair.com/mutabal-middle-eastern-eggplant-dip/). Serve with the flatbread of your choice or sliced vegetables for snacking, or as a side dish to mutton or beef.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/3 "2022-07-16T21:00:12Z")
I like to slice an eggplant into ~1/2 “ discs, toss them in a bit of olive oil, then grill them, seasoning them as they cook. Get some nice grill marks on them.
Remove them from the grill, allow them to cool, then refrigerate. I then build a salad around a few discs on each plate.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/4 "2022-07-16T21:01:36Z")
I often roast eggplant, sometimes with zucchini or other vegetables, using a little olive oil and spices. Very good as a side dish or served with spaghetti.
With at least three dozen eggplant plants in the vegetable garden, a fair amount will also be frozen for over-the-winter eggplant treats.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/5 "2022-07-16T21:32:15Z")
Ratatouille, of course.
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/6 "2022-07-16T21:56:18Z")
Grilled or roasted are how I like them best. Heavenly.
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### Author:  [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/7 "2022-07-16T22:02:20Z")
A Persian dish my wife showed me: Peel and slice the eggplant into pieces and bake them with some salt and little bit of oil until they are soft (if you are a little less health conscious, cook them in a pan instead which uses more oil). Then hard boil some eggs. After both have cooled a little but while they are still warm put both in a bowl, add some salt and pepper and break it all up with a fork until it becomes kind of like an egg salad but somewhat chunkier. Then eat. It’s great on toast or crackers or whatever and makes for a great breakfast or brunch.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/8 "2022-07-16T22:04:14Z")
Our garden eggplant is just coming in. Roasted or grilled they make excellent sandwiches, even better with some roasted red pepper, mayo and lettuce.
We have an eggplant cookbook I got one year when we had a surplus. But the easiest thing to do is to search for eggplant recipes online and scan through them until you find one that sounds good.
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### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/9 "2022-07-16T22:19:05Z")
Nailed it in one
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### Author:  [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/10 "2022-07-16T22:30:35Z")
I have pretty much always loathed eggplant, though my feelings have softened a bit over the years.
In high school, I had an Iranian friend. One day, we were studying for a history mid-term together at his place. He announced that lunch would be made by his mother and it would be eggplant. I groaned.
Not wanting to be rude, I went along… and it was fucking delicious. It was stuffed and spiced (but not spicy) with I don’t even know what. It’s been so long, I wouldn’t trust my memory of it, but I do recall the vague taste of soy, tomatoes and maybe lamb(?) Many years later, my mom made a stuffed eggplant dish and I belatedly recognized it as the same thing (though not nearly as good).
I’m pretty sure it was a version of dolmeh bademjan.
[https://www.google.com/search?q=dolmeh+bademjan+irani&biw=1760&bih=911&ei=zDrTYoPGBvnVkPIP4-aR2Ac&oq=DOLMEH+BADEMJAN+&gs\_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYATIGCAAQHhAWMgYIABAeEBYyBggAEB4QFjIGCAAQHhAWMgUIABCGAzIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDMgUIABCGAzoHCAAQRxCwA0oECEEYAEoECEYYAFC-Eli-EmCVIWgBcAF4AIABrAGIAawBkgEDMC4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz](https://www.google.com/search?q=dolmeh+bademjan+irani&biw=1760&bih=911&ei=zDrTYoPGBvnVkPIP4-aR2Ac&oq=DOLMEH+BADEMJAN+&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYATIGCAAQHhAWMgYIABAeEBYyBggAEB4QFjIGCAAQHhAWMgUIABCGAzIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDMgUIABCGAzoHCAAQRxCwA0oECEEYAEoECEYYAFC-Eli-EmCVIWgBcAF4AIABrAGIAawBkgEDMC4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz)
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### Author:  [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/11 "2022-07-16T22:45:59Z")
Fried eggplant slices. These are great for snacking!
Evenly sliced, well purged and patted dry. Dip In a simple beer batter, not thick, salt and pepper. Fry in oil or bake at a high temp
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### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2022, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/12 "2022-07-17T11:45:48Z")
I’m always very pleased when my Tempura order includes eggplant. The kids would even eat it when they were young.
Eggplant Parmesan is another favorite.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/13 "2022-07-17T13:53:11Z")
Baingan Bharta is a very tasty Indian dip that I’ve made many times. Mrs. solost and I both love it. Have lots of naan on hand to scoop it up.
> **[Baingan Bharta: Indian-style Roast Eggplant Dip - Hooked on Heat](https://www.hookedonheat.com/turning-up-the-heat-baingan-bharta/)**
>
> This Baingan Bharta recipe is one of those that I make regularly - not just for ourselves but also when entertaining. It's super simple to bulk up and is a definite crowd-pleaser. Serve it a dip with some crackers for game night or a side in a proper...
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### Author:  [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/14 "2022-07-17T14:36:13Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#):
>
> eggplant
If you want to widen your search for recipes, try "aubergine " as eggplant is called in the UK and Ireland.
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### Author:  [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/15 "2022-07-17T15:36:47Z")
Pizza! Eggplant parm pizza!
Slice, sweat, dredge in flour, give a drizzle of olive oil, bake until you’re happy with the consistency, put on pizza with a nice tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella.
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### Author:  [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2022, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-eggplant/968063/16 "2022-07-18T00:54:22Z")
[Pasta alla Norma](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014832-pasta-alla-norma?surface=cooking-carousel&fellback=false&req_id=975976609&algo=cooking_preranked_all_MiniLM_L12_v2_title_desc_step&variant=2_cooking_pretrained_title_desc_step&imp_id=99082724&action=click&module=RecirculationRibbon&pgType=recipedetails&rank=1)
It’s my new favorite pasta dish. The only thing I do differently than this recipe (and tradition) is that I cube and salt the eggplant (to draw out some moisture), then rinse, dry, toss in olive oil, and roast in the oven. 400 degF for 20-ish minutes seems about right. Saves all the hassle of frying, and I like the texture better.
Oh, and I like short-medium pasta as opposed to spaghetti. I think [casarecce](https://florafoods.com/product/casarecce-n-96-5-pack/) is ideal (and traditional) if you can find it. Ziti will do nicely as well.