Saveur Eggplants: Kind of Weird Looking and Totally Versatile

From: Saveur - Saturday Apr 14, 2018 09:06 am

Saveur

04/14/2018

#Cooktheworld With Us

Everybody knows that SAVEUR loves to #eattheworld, but we happen to know that our readers also love to cook the world. This is why we’ve decided to start looking at ways different countries approach the same ingredient. I mean, take eggplant, for example. If you think all you can do with it is chop it up and roast it, or coat it in breading and parm it up, you’d be totally, utterly wrong—with all due respect to the eggplant parmesan, of course.

You could start with this stuffed version from Turkey, or go a significantly spicier route and opt for some Chinese garlic eggplant (Yu Xiang Qie Zi). And the dips! What is it about eggplant that lends itself to such amazing, versatile dips? Eggplant experts, please let me know. It seems like the entire world has an eggplanty dip of their own, and the Mediterranean is especially good at them. Just look at this Balkan-style ajvar, or this super-smoky Israeli twice-cooked eggplant.

So whether you’re looking for the perfect curry or a vehicle for all that amazing tahini you just bought, go for the eggplant. It won’t let you down.

Show us how you’re cooking your eggplants on Instagram! Tag your photos with #cooktheworld to show us your best 🍆 recipes.