And then we got two Italian eggplants. I’ve got two recipe ideas below – neither is quick to cook, but both delicious. The Focaccia with Ricotta and Olives makes a delicious lunch. I’m hoping to get mine baked before we head out to the beach so we’ll have squares available for snacking on the road and enough left for a light dinner with a salad.
eggplant
(2020) Eggplant Moussaka
Needing eggplant inspiration from the beatnik 70’s? Try this moussaka recipe from my mother’s ex-boyfriend Paul. The resulting casserole might be short on authenticity, but is long on yum.
(2020) Kashke Bademijan (Eggplant Dip)
This is a recipe that’s easy to scale up if you have more guests to feed.
The kashk is available at persianbasket.com but Lotfi says you could substitute strained fat-free Greek yogurt if you prefer.
(2019) Pricci’s Rigatoni Alla Norma
I’ve adapted this recipe slightly. When Pricci sent the recipe originally, it called for fresh tomatoes. Then they revised it for canned Italian tomatoes. That was fine, and probably is closer to what they serve at the restaurant, but I liked it best with fresh tomatoes. Today’s eggplant and tomatoes are exactly what you need for this recipe.
(2018) Grilled Eggplant with Nuoc Cham
You’ll find two dozen or so eggplant recipes there, but I’m going to try this one from “Chinatown Kitchen” by Lizzie Mabbott. Just basically browned eggplant with herbs and my favorite Vietnamese dipping sauce. Perfect summer dish. You could use a little habanero in place of the bird’s eye chile. Not traditional, but still delicious. Lizzie’s recipe calls for making the nuoc cham in a mortar and pestle. Full disclosure – I’ll be doing this in a food processor.
(2017) Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes
Of course you can grill the eggplant if you’ve got the grill going.
(2017) Ratatouille Quiche
Finally, a pretty complicated recipe from Frank Stitt of Birmingham’s Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega Cafe and Chez Fonfon. Delicious and worth the time it takes to make it. Maybe this could be a project for this weekend? Do you have some zucchini left from last week? Perfect. If not, maybe substitute another eggplant for the squash called for her.
(2017) Pasta with Eggplant Sauce
I love eggplant and was so tickled to see it in the box today. Maybe for today, maybe for later in the summer when you need some other eggplant ideas, try this slow-cooker recipe for an eggplant sauce. Love it. The original came from Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It calls for canned tomatoes, but when the tomatoes start coming in, it’s delicious made with fresh tomatoes.
Ratatouille Stuffed Eggplant
This lovely recipe comes to us from Garnish & Gather, the Atlanta-based local organic dinner delivery service. It will use up three of the vegetables in your box. No farro on hand? Substitute whatever grain – bulgur, rice, quinoa – you have in your pantry.
Eggplant Caviar on Grilled Bread
From the “Chez Panisse” cookbook. A simple way to serve eggplant.