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March 15, 2015

Aubergine

“last night before
I fell asleep
I put the book
on the floor
looking down
I see its spine
with the golden
simple name
of the old
poet who might
already be dead
somehow he used
ancient magic
everyone says
we don’t need anymore
to place inside
me that perfect
sadness”

– from “Aubergine”, by Matthew Zapruder

This is a lovely dish, regardless of whether you call the vegetable “eggplant” or “aubergine”. Fearnley-Whittingstall suggests two ways of serving it – with a dollop of yogurt and shredded mint, or with a bit of pesto. It’s great both ways.

Roasted Eggplant Boats
(from River Cottage Veg Everyday, by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall)
Ingredients
2 large eggplants
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 – 3 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
4 – 5 Tbsp olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
2 – 3 Tbsp pesto
OR
4 – 6 Tbsp plain, full-fat yogurt and 8 mint leaves, shredded
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut eggplants in half lengthways. Using a small, sharp knife, make a series of deep slashes diagonally across the flesh, going about two-thirds of the way into the flesh but not right through to the skin. You want to end up with 6 – 10 slashes, depending on the size of your eggplants.
Mix the garlic and red pepper flakes with 3 Tbsp of the olive oil. Hold one eggplant half in your hand and squeeze it from side to side so the slashes open up a little. Spoon some of the garlic- and red-pepper-oil over the top with a teaspoon, using the back of the spoon to work the oil down into the slashes. Repeat with the other halves.
Put the eggplant halves, flesh side up, in a roasting dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then trickle over a little more olive oil – there should be little or no unoiled flesh showing. Roast in the oven for about 50 minutes or until a deep golden brown.
Let eggplants cool slightly. Serve hot or warm, either smeared with a little pesto, or dabbed with yogurt and sprinkled with mint and a little more salt.

Filed Under: Easy Entrees, Salads and Side Dishes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natalie Aguirre says

    March 15, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    I don't usually eat eggplant. But I'm going to remember this recipe for when they come in season this summer. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Marcela says

    March 15, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    Such a delicious eggplant dish! I don't usually eat them, but you just inspired me to buy one!

    Reply
  3. Julie says

    March 15, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    I love eggplant, hubby not so much! There's usually some in our CSA basket in the summer for me to enjoy!

    Reply
  4. Valerie Gamine says

    March 15, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    I Love eggplant, too! This is definitely *bookmarked!*

    Reply
  5. Gloria Baker says

    March 15, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    I love aubergines too! Love your recipe Beth!

    Reply
  6. Cheri Savory Spoon says

    March 16, 2015 at 12:03 am

    Hi Beth, such a great recipe and cookbook, your pictures are beautiful. Take care!

    Reply
  7. The Glamorous Gourmet says

    March 16, 2015 at 1:25 am

    I adore eggplant but can never find enough good recipes for it. I definitely look forward to trying this one – thanks for sharing:)

    Reply
  8. Catherine says

    March 16, 2015 at 1:41 am

    Dear Beth, This is a favorite of mine. It seems I love eggplant cooked up in many different versions. xo Catherine

    Reply
  9. Janet Johnson says

    March 16, 2015 at 2:25 am

    I have much to learn about eggplant (and cooking vegetables in general!). But I loved the poem you shared. It gave me a shiver of delight about the spine of the book and ancient magic.

    Reply
  10. Barbara says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Easy and delicious, Beth. My mother served us eggplant when we were kids….quite daring of her, I think. As a result, we all still love it.

    Reply
  11. Jayanthi Sindhiya says

    March 16, 2015 at 11:18 am

    Aubergines look delicious!! Love your neat presentation

    Reply
  12. Jemi Fraser says

    March 16, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    I like eggplant, but my hubby hasn't been a fan so far – maybe this recipe will convince him!

    Reply
  13. amy (fearless homemaker) says

    March 16, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    Mmm, I love eggplant, but like Jemi above, I rarely make it because my husband isn't a fan. I'm still in search of the recipe that will win him over — maybe this is the one? It looks wonderful!

    Reply
  14. scrambledhenfruit says

    March 17, 2015 at 2:27 am

    Eggplant is such a beautiful vegetable! My husband and I both love it. This would be a new way to prepare it- it looks tasty! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Laura Dembowski says

    March 17, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I am not a huge fan of eggplant, but yours looks so beautiful, it makes me want to give it another try!

    Reply
  16. Kayte says

    March 17, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    I'm in, I'm IN ON THIS ONE!! Golly this looks fantastic.

    Reply
  17. Liz Berg says

    March 18, 2015 at 12:30 am

    What a delicious preparation! I'll take mine with pesto, please 🙂

    Reply
  18. Tricia Buice says

    March 18, 2015 at 12:40 am

    Oh nice – eggplant with pesto – how fascinating! My husband loves eggplant and we usually grow it in our garden. I will have to give this a go!

    Reply
  19. Katerina says

    March 18, 2015 at 7:14 am

    Yogurt and eggplant match perfectly and in Greece we make this combination quite often. They look delicious Beth!

    Reply
  20. Joanne says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:29 am

    Such a simple and tasty way to prepare eggplant!

    Reply
  21. Kitchen Riffs says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    Eggplant has so much flavor, doesn't it? This is such a nice, simple preparation that highlights the great flavor of eggplant. Good stuff! Thanks.

    Reply
  22. Stephen Tremp says

    March 18, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    That looks really good, sans the sour cream. Extra quacamole for me. I love eggplant.

    Reply
  23. Monica says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    I almost can't believe how much I enjoy eggplant/aubergine now. I love this simple preparation of it. Time to pick one up and get cooking. : )

    Reply
  24. Juliana Levine says

    March 19, 2015 at 4:14 am

    Nice and simple way o cook eggplants…I would love to try with the pesto sauce on it…
    Hope you are having a nice week Beth 🙂

    Reply
  25. I Wilkerson says

    March 23, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Wow the second eggplant recipe I've seen this morning. I must be meant to buy some!

    Reply

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