Ah, the eggplant – or aubergine as it is known oversees. This is a truly strange vegetable that looks pretty much like nothing else and tastes just as unique. While it’s a weird thing though, it’s also definitely tasty. And when used in the right recipe, it can be a fantastic, delicious centerpiece.
There’s also actually quite a lot you can do with an eggplant. Plus, it has a whole host of different health benefits. It is high in fiber (good for digestion), as well as potassium (good for crams), magnesium (good for bones), B vitamins (good for energy levels), copper (good for the brain), and antioxidants (anti-aging and anti-cancer).
It’s very affordable and it’s easy to store. So with all that said, it’s time that you started getting more eggplant in your life! In this post, we’re going to look at 15 of the best eggplant recipes to get you started.
1. Moussaka
Okay, it wouldn’t be right to kick off this list with anything but moussaka. Moussaka is the defacto eggplant recipe and the one that most of us are familiar with. It’s particularly rich thanks to all the tomato and meat, and it’s actually pretty good for you as well.
On top of that moussaka is also relatively simple to make and is great guest food for that reason.
To make moussaka, you’re essentially making lasagna but substituting the pasta for the eggplant slices. Take your ground beef and fry this up in a pan with some red onion and maybe a little bacon if you want to make it extra flavorsome. Now add some chopped tomato, some seasoning, and some tomato puree. You should also add plenty of garlic.
Slice the eggplant once you’re nearly ready to put it in the oven and layer it on top thinly. Pour over the top some white sauce. You can either make this with cheese, cream, and flour, or you can buy some ready prepared. Use mozzarella if you make your own.
Place in the oven at about 200C and leave it there for 30 minutes. Remove and you know have your moussaka! You can also optionally choose to cover the aubergine in some oil and fry it a little on both sides first.