How To Inclyde Eggplants In Your Meals And Make Your Family Love Them

Eggplants are one of those vegetables that people, especially kids, are not too willing to eat.

Eggplants are mistreated vegetables, they look nice, but some people do not enjoy their taste and texture.

They should be included in most houses as a common ingredient. Their blank flavour and versatility must be seized in your daily family meals.

What are eggplants?

People think that eggplants are vegetables, but they are a fruit. Well, they are between a vegetable and a fruit.

They are part of the nightshade family of plants like sweet tomatoes. They have a bitter taste and a squishy texture.

Eggplants are very nutritious. They contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help to keep you and your family healthier.

This nutritional value also protects the cells and improves better processing of sugar in the blood.

How to cook eggplants?

Cooking eggplants is effortless. There are many ways of preparing them: baking, roasting, grilling, stir-frying, frying, and steaming.

Baking:

1. Preheat the oven
2. Cut the eggplants into slices
3. Put them in a baking tray and sprinkle salt, preferred herbs, and pepper all over them.
4. Bake for 15 minutes.

Grilling:

1. Heat the grill at medium temperature.
2. Cut the eggplants into slices, cubes, or halves.
3. Brush the eggplants with olive and season them with salt and pepper.
4. Place them on the grill until they get the grill characteristics marks.
5. Turn the slices and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Dice eggplant into medium pieces.
7. Arrange them in a bowl and add salt and pepper. Mix very well.
8. In a wok, add olive oil and heat.
9. Incorporate the eggplants and stir-fry until they are golden.

Steaming:

• Cut the eggplants into small pieces.
• Incorporate them in a steamer and cook for 20 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper, and herbs.

Different dishes made with eggplants

Eggplants are so versatile and combine with almost any ingredient. You can prepare dozens of dishes with these vegetables/fruits to please your family, from pasta, snacks, and sandwiches, to soups and stews.

Eggplant parmesan is one of the traditional eggplant dishes, followed by the satisfying stuffed eggplant parmesan, and the creamy Baba Ganoush.

Other preparations with this nutritive ingredient are:

• Ratatouille.
• Grilled eggplant pasta.
• Eggplant tacos.
• Eggplant lasagna.
• Eggplant moussaka.
• Eggplant chickpea tagine.
• Moroccan eggplant.
• Eggplant puttanesca.
• Roasted eggplant with za’atar.
• Green curry eggplant.
• Sour soup with salmon and eggplant.
• Grilled eggplant salad.
• Sandwich with grilled eggplant.
• Eggplant pickles.
• Eggplant wrap.

Make your family fall in love with eggplant dishes

There is no excuse for not including eggplants in your shopping list. If you have doubts, remember they are delicious, nutritious, and easy to prepare.

If your family are not convinced yet, try the following recipes and make them fall in love with them.

Grilled eggplant salad

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 1 medium eggplant cut into small dice.
• 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Salt and black pepper to taste.
• 1 cup of brown rice.
• Chopped fresh basil.
• Chopped fresh parsley.
•  6 chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
• ¼ cup of chopped pistachio nuts.
• 1 tablespoon of capers.
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.

Preparation:

1. Add salt and pepper to the diced eggplants, and place them in a baking tray.
2. Roast at 180°C (350 F) for 25 minutes.
3. Cook rice in boiling water until it gets tender. Let it cool.
4. Mix the cold rice and roasted eggplants in a bowl.
5. Add fresh basil, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, pistachio nuts, and capers. Stir very well.
6. Toss lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil before serving.

Eggplant Rice

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 1 tablespoon of coriander seeds.
• 2 dry red chilli peppers
• ½ teaspoon of turmeric.
• 2 cups of cooked rice.
• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil.
• 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds.
• 2 sprigs of curry leaves.
• 1 eggplant cut into dice.
• ¼ cup of processed peanuts.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and heat at medium temperature.
2. Add coriander seeds, red chilli peppers, and turmeric. Roast them for five minutes.
3. Take out this mixture from the saucepan, let them cool, and blend until they form a powder. Reserve.
4. Incorporate another teaspoon of coconut oil into the saucepan, the mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Cook for one minute.
5. Add the eggplants, salt, and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes.
6. Reduce heat and incorporate peanut powder, cooked rice and blended spices. Stir very well.
7. Serve hot.