Top 5 Ways to Cook Eggplant in 2022

 Top 5 Ways to Cook Eggplant in 2022

In the United States, eggplant has long been relegated to an ingredient in eggplant parmesan or perhaps as part of a Greek moussaka dish. Elsewhere, it’s often used in Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. However, we can expect this tasty veggie to make its way into even more kitchens by 2022. Here are five ways that home cooks will be enjoying this versatile vegetable in the future.

1) Grilled, with rub

The first way to cook eggplant is by grilling it. You'll want to start by rubbing the eggplant with olive oil and your favorite spices. Then, you'll need to preheat your grill to medium-high heat and cook the eggplant for about 10 minutes, flipping it once during cooking. Once it's cooked through, you can remove it from the grill and enjoy!

2) Roasted, with garlic, salt and pepper

Roasting eggplant is a great way to bring out its natural sweetness. To roast eggplant, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the eggplant into 1-inch cubes and toss with garlic, salt and pepper. Spread the eggplant on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking. Enjoy your roasted eggplant as is, or use it in a variety of recipes.

3) Deep fried

While some people may be put off by the idea of deep frying eggplant, it can actually be a very delicious way to prepare the vegetable. The key is to choose a good oil for frying, and to not overdo it – you don’t want your eggplant to be greasy. Here are our top tips for deep frying eggplant: 

1. Choose a good oil with a high smoke point, like peanut oil or canola oil. 

2. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot until it reaches the correct temperature – around 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. Cut your eggplant into thin slices or rounds, and dust them with flour or cornstarch. This will help them stay crispy.

4) Baked

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the eggplant into thin slices, about 1/4-inch thick. Add a layer of eggplant slices, top with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

5) Stir fried, with tamari and sesame seeds

Add oil, then the eggplant. Stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the eggplant is starting to soften. Add tamari and sesame seeds. Serve with rice and steamed greens.

Roasted, with tomatoes and fresh herbs (seven sentences): Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes and place on a baking sheet. Add cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs during the last 5 minutes of cooking.