Eggplant :growing and cooking

[stillmanz]

eggplant is delicous the best is firm but not spongy. it should not have formed defined seeds yet if you cookit at this stage there is no need to salt although its fine to do so.
the key to good eggplant parma is an excellent napoli sauce
try
frying some garlic and finely diced onion in a pan in some olive oil add a little salt and pepper, add two tins of whole italian tomatoes, add a splash of balsamic vineger a tsp of brown sugar and some parmigano regano or similiar.... simmer it out breaking tomatoes down, at the end add some whole basil leaves. then just build your eggplant parma one layer eggplant then sauce alittle extra cheese if you like. Finish in the oven with plenty parma on top to crisp up.
baba ghanoush is delicous too...

 

[Daisy7117]

eggplant is delicous the best is firm but not spongy. it should not have formed defined seeds yet if you cookit at this stage there is no need to salt although its fine to do so.
the key to good eggplant parma is an excellent napoli sauce
try
frying some garlic and finely diced onion in a pan in some olive oil add a little salt and pepper, add two tins of whole italian tomatoes, add a splash of balsamic vineger a tsp of brown sugar and some parmigano regano or similiar.... simmer it out breaking tomatoes down, at the end add some whole basil leaves. then just build your eggplant parma one layer eggplant then sauce alittle extra cheese if you like. Finish in the oven with plenty parma on top to crisp up.
baba ghanoush is delicous too...

That sauce recipe sounds delicious,....definitely going to try this with my eggplant!

 

[AKButch]

I'm going to try that recipe for sure with eggplant.

But first when I get home this weekend, I'm going to try the sauce over mixed veggies ( strips of potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and fennel) sealed in foil pouches over the grill! Might just have to smear some of that sauce over some Red Salmon fillets I plan on grilling also since,according to the weather guessers, the temps are going to be above freezing this weekend! We shall see!

 

[thepodpiper]

Although I have never eatin or grown eggplant these recipes are making me hungry! Now how about the second half of POTAWIE's question what types are you guys growing ? i too am interested in growing some this year and some unique looking ones would be on the top of my list. Any suggestions.

Dale

 

[stillmanz]

Black beauty or lebanese long are good eating, Any of your italian heirloom are great too.
Black beauty did very well for me in Oz conditions, extremely hardy plant. I'm growing an italian heirlook at present can't think of the name its a really big plant but the flowers won't stay on so can't say if the fruits any good yet. lol

 

[bowhunter]

I grow whay is called cloud nine(white eggplant ,skin is not bitter and you do not need to take the water out)and italian pink(same thing)Me and the mum like them more then the Black beauty
Dan




LET IT BURN

 

[Pam]

I got these two to play with this year. I've never tried to grow it from seed before, I usually just get a plant or two from this really neat guy who sells mostly heirloom tomato plants at a spring flower festival the State Farmer's Market has.

http://www.seedsavers.org/prodinfo.asp?number=1304

http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.asp?item_no=S10812

I'll probably be trying all these recipes this summer!

 

[POTAWIE]

I noticed a "pickling" variety. Has anyone pickled eggplant?

 

[Omri]

I noticed a "pickling" variety. Has anyone pickled eggplant?

Nope, but I made candy and jam.

Edit:
Not sure if it's "pickling", but I eat a lot of salted eggplants.
It's a type of preserving, just with salt water and not vinegar.

 

[Daisy7117]

The varieties of eggplants I grow are Black Beauty and Nadia Hybrid,...both are reliable producers and great tasting....this year I'm growing Italian White, supposedly outstanding flavor

 

[GrumpyBear]

OMG you can totally pickle them with hot peppers too, my favorite bagel shop has a vegetarian sandwich with spicy pickled eggplant. Actually Potawie it's in ottawa, kettlemans theres two locations.

 

[Omri]

Ha! I knew I've seen it before!
Pickled miniature eggplants:

I still prefer the ones in salted water.

 

[Daisy7117]

OMG you can totally pickle them with hot peppers too, my favorite bagel shop has a vegetarian sandwich with spicy pickled eggplant. Actually Potawie it's in ottawa, kettlemans theres two locations.

Mario Batali has a great recipe for pickled eggplant I definitely want to try...looks pretty easy.

 

[POTAWIE]

How do you know when to pick eggplant? I know to pick before they are fully ripe but how do you tell? I'll try to get some pics, because I think I may have a bunch ready to pick.

 

[pepperfever]

If you've ever eaten fried green tomatoes or fried zucchini eggplant is in that category...delicious. Also works well with any onions, garlic or tomato, it's easy to use and versatile. I haven't had it pickled but will have to check that out. We always grow eggplant.

Jackie

 

[POTAWIE]

Ok, can somebody tell me if these are ready to pick.

These are Fairy-tale and Macchiaw


And this is a Sicilian variety, I can't remember the name

 

[Omri]

Not sure about those purple ones, but the darker ones are ready as soon as they reach that deep color.

 

[POTAWIE]

I was thinking of roasting some eggplant and making some Baba Ghanoush but where would I find tahini(sesame paste), I've never seen it before.
Maybe I'll just try more of a greek style melitzanosalata

 

[Omri]

I was thinking of roasting some eggplant and making some Baba Ghanoush but where would I find tahini(sesame paste), I've never seen it before.
Maybe I'll just try more of a greek style melitzanosalata

Why the heck are you calling T'hina, "tahini"? if you really want, I'll send you a raw one.

 

[POTAWIE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahini