How to cook with eggplant

Eggplants are large, fleshy and versatile vegetables that are not only tasty but also low in fat and calories. Because of their dense texture, eggplants make a fantastic substitute for meat in many dishes. There are several varieties of eggplant, but the most popular and familiar in Australia is large with purple skin and pale flesh, called “black beauty”. 

When buying eggplants, look for smooth, glossy skin without blemishes. Also, feel the weight of your eggplant, as it should be substantially heavy. Beware of light eggplants, as this usually means they’re old and dry. Store eggplants in the salad drawer of the fridge until you’re ready to cook them. However, don’t wait longer than five to six days, as this is when they start to go off. Eggplants are prone to bruising, so it’s important to handle them with care and avoid crushing them with other vegetables, such as carrots or potatoes.

How to cook eggplant

There are many ways in which you can cook eggplant recipes. When planning your menu, it’s important to adapt your cooking method to suit the dish. Each method produces different flavours and textures, whether you fry eggplant, grill it, barbecue it, or roast it. But before you start cooking, you need to prep the eggplant first.

How to prepare an eggplant for cooking

Before you start cooking eggplant, wash it thoroughly and cut it for the recipe of your choice. If you’re frying the eggplant in a pan, for example, make sure you slice it thickly and salt it on both sides. The salt draws out unnecessary moisture from the eggplant, so it will absorb less oil as you fry it.

How to roast eggplant

1. Trim off the stalks and cut each eggplant lengthways in half. You can score the top in a criss-cross pattern, but it’s not necessary. 
2. Arrange the eggplant halves on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Insert the eggplant into an oven, preheated to 200°C. 
4. Roast for 20 minutes, then carefully turn the eggplants over and roast for a further 10–15 minutes until soft and golden. 

Scoop out the flesh if you’re making a dip or baba ganoush, or slice the eggplant to use in salads and bowls, or pasta recipes. Alternatively, you could try roasting eggplant in slices or cubes, which makes the cooking process faster.

More ways to cook eggplant

Frying eggplant is a very simple method. As mentioned, always remember to salt eggplant ahead of time to draw out the juices and make it less susceptible to absorbing oil. 

1. Trim the stalks off the eggplants and slice them into 1 cm circles. Lightly brush each slice with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 
2. In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the eggplant slices in batches and fry for 3–5 minutes on each side until golden brown. 
3. Remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper to remove any excess oil. Enjoy them on their own or with some Greek yoghurt and fresh herbs.

Grilled eggplant

If you want to grill eggplant, you can use a grilling pan or an oven grill. 

• Preheat the grill to its highest setting. 
• Leaving the stalks intact, cut the eggplants lengthways in half. 
• Using a knife, score the flesh to make a criss-cross pattern. 
• Brush the flesh side with 2 tbsps of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 
• Put the eggplants in a baking tray or grill pan for 10-12 minutes, with the flesh-side facing down, until soft and leathery. 
• Flip the eggplants over and grill for another 5 minutes. 

Once ready, you can add them to a variety of meals or use them as antipasti. 

Barbecuing eggplant

Barbecuing is another way to really elevate eggplant. The beauty of this method is that you can barbecue eggplants whole. Once they are nicely chargrilled, strip their skins and scoop out the flesh for a hearty side dish. You can also cut thick slices or cubes of eggplant and stick them onto skewers, alternating with peppers, onions and prawns for a quick outdoor lunch.

Recipes with eggplant

Discover some favourite easy recipes that effortlessly bring eggplant into your weekly menu: 

• Harissa & Honey-Glazed Eggplant
• Thai Sweet Potato & Eggplant Red Curry
• Cheat’s Eggplant Parmigiana
• Sri Lankan Chicken & Roast Eggplant Curry
• Roast Eggplant & Plant-Based Pesto

Now that you’ve mastered the art of cooking eggplant dishes, go ahead and discover the delicious world of HelloFresh recipes. With a flexible HelloFresh subscription, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for weekly meal ideas.