The eggplant is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine, offering a multitude of possibilities and flavors. Here are 5 unique and original aubergine-based recipes that you must absolutely try in order to bring some novelty to your meals.
1. Eggplant, Tomato and Zucchini Gratin
Why not start with a delicious gratin combining the flavors of sun-kissed vegetables, for the enjoyment of your guests and your own? Follow these few steps:
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- 2 zucchinis
- 4 tomatoes
- 150 g of grated cheese (emmental, comté…)
- Olive oil
- Thyme
- Salt and pepper
Preparation
1. Wash and cut the vegetables into thin slices.
2. Quickly grill the eggplant slices in a pan with a bit of olive oil until they are slightly golden.
3. Preheat your oven to 180°C.
4. In an ovenproof dish, alternate layers of vegetables adding a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme between each layer.
5. Sprinkle grated cheese on top.
6. Bake for approximately 45 minutes until the gratin is nicely golden.
2. Quinoa-Stuffed Eggplants
Eggplants lend themselves perfectly to the preparation of tasty and substantial vegetarian dishes. Combine them with quinoa for a nutritious and exquisite blend :
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- 150 g of quinoa
- 1 onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- 100 g of cooked chickpeas
- 50 g of feta
- Flat parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
[bzkshopping keyword=”quinoa”]
[bzkshopping keyword=”chickpeas”]
Preparation
1. Preheat your oven to 180°C.
2. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and then hollow them out with a spoon, without piercing the skin. Set the flesh aside.
3. Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions and then drain it.
4. Finely chop the onion and fry it over low heat with a little olive oil and the chopped garlic in a pan. Then add the chopped eggplant flesh and cook for a few minutes.
5. Off the heat, incorporate the cooked quinoa, crushed chickpeas, crumbled feta and a little chopped parsley. Salt and pepper to your taste.
6. Stuff the eggplants with this preparation and bake for 25-30 minutes.
3. Parmesan breaded eggplants
Revisit eggplant with this crispy and full of flavors recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- 100 g of flour
- 1 egg
- 200 g of breadcrumbs
- 100 g of grated parmesan
- Olive oil
Preparation
1. Cut the eggplants into thin slices.
2. In a first container, place the flour. In a second, beat the egg with two tablespoons of water. Finally, in a third, mix the breadcrumbs with the parmesan.
3. Pass each slice of eggplant successively in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs with parmesan.
4. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan and brown the breaded eggplants on both sides until they are crispy.
4. Eggplant Hummus with Tahini
To delight your guests during the appetizer, try this unique and unexpected recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant
- 2 tablespoons of sesame paste (tahini)
- The juice of a lemon
- 1 clove of garlic
- Olive Oil
- Salt and pepper
[bzkshopping keyword=”tahini”]
Preparation
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C.
2. Wrap the whole eggplant in aluminum foil and bake it for about 40 minutes or until it becomes tender inside.
3. Let it cool down a bit and then remove the skin of the eggplant and put the flesh in a blender with the tahini, chopped garlic, lemon juice, two tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
4. Blend until you obtain the desired consistency and then add a drizzle of olive oil and optionally sprinkle with paprika before serving.
[bzkshopping keyword=”kitchen blender”]
5. Eggplant and Fresh Goat Cheese Lasagna
“Last but not least“, discover a revisited version of lasagna that delicately blends the flavors of eggplant and goat cheese:
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- 600 g of tomato coulis
- 200 g of fresh goat cheese
- 1 ball of mozzarella
- Basil
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
[bzkshopping keyword=”tomato coulis”]
Preparation
1. Quickly grill the slices of eggplant in a pan with a little olive oil until they are slightly browned.
2. Preheat your oven to 180°C.
3. In an ovenproof dish, distribute a layer of grilled eggplants, then cover with tomato sauce and crumble a bit of fresh goat cheese.
4. Repeat these layers until you run out of ingredients, ending with a layer of eggplants.
5. Drain the mozzarella, cut it into slices and place them on the lasagna.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes.
These original recipes will delight your taste buds and prove that eggplants can be used in a thousand different ways. So don’t hesitate anymore: let yourself be tempted by these incredible preparations and impress your guests with these unique ideas!