aubergines

[gloriaosei]

what can i make with an aubergine either as like a side dish or as part of a meal?

[Veggibear]

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/recipe.asp?arti cle=1241

I love this recipe, but I guess it depends on what you are having it with.

You can find other recipes on her website for Aubergines (and everything else) at Nigella.com and there is a recipes tab.

[Clanad]

As I suspected, after Googling, this Yank finds that aubergines are our eggplants. That being so, then, especially for the winter days we are still experiencing, I heartily recommend a nice ratatouille'. Easily done and goes with just about everything. Here's one that we do often:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 small eggplant, cubed
2 green bell peppers, coarsely chopped
4 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped, or 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
3 to 4 small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 teaspoon dried leaf basil
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In a 4-quart Dutch oven or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add eggplant; stir until coated with oil. Add peppers; stir to combine Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep vegetables from sticking.
Add tomatoes, zucchini, and herbs; mix well. Cover and cook over low heat about 15 minutes, or until eggplant is tender but not too soft. (I also add about a cup and a half of thickly diced yellow squash plus sea salt and fresh pepper to taste).
Serves 4...

[dundurn]

I'll try it Clanad, sounds good. By the way divided as we are by a common language - over here zucchini become courgettes!

[filthiestfis]

You should ake an aubergine gratin. Unfortunately I am at work and dont have the recipe with me but it is delicious.

[Clanad]

After a few years on this site, dundurn, and previously thinking I had a fairly good command of the English language, I'm still being educated as to the differences... actually, for some reason, I knew about courgettes/zucchinis...

Thanks! by the way...

[thugulike]

Slice thickly and spread with hummous. Place under the grill until brown and bubbly. Serve as a starter or as a veg.

[sunflower68]

Thai prawn curry:

Fry green chilli paste in a little oil, add a dash of fish sauce and half a can of coconut milk and a chug of water. Add aubergine chunks and mushrooms and cook till soft. Add prawns at the end and serve with rice, yum.

[hogmother]

A nice easy side dish that my husband loves is to slice the aubergine and fry it in olive oil when it is nearly cooked through add some tomato ketchup or tomato puree, and serve.

[Goodsoulette]

AS a side dish...

cube an aubergine, slice some red and yellow peppers, some diced par boiled potatoes, courgettes and shallots and place in a shallow roasting dish and roast in the oven for about 40 minutes covered in olive oil, 2 whole cloves of garlic, rosemary, sage and oregano. When its out of the oven, toss some fresh mint through.
OR....

thinly slice 2 aubergines (then brush with oil and grill until golden brown on both sides)

thinly slice some beef steak tomatoes,

grease a gratin dish with butter, layer the aubergines and tomatoes alternating between aubergine and tomato.

take one egg and mix with 200mls of fresh greek yoghurt, season with salt and pepper.

Spread this over the dish evenly, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake in the oven for 30 mins.

Breaded aubergine is lovely too. Just dip sliced aubergine in egg and then breadcrumbs and deep fry.