Authentic Italian Cooking

Recipes for eggplants (aubergines)

Eggplant is a typical summer vegetable. It is true that we can find them easily throughout the year at the supermarket but in reality anyone who has a garden knows that these plants do not grow well in the cold. The harvest begins in the hottest areas in June but runs out quickly with the onset of autumn. So what we, living north of the equator, find in the winter come from afar or from greenhouses and have neither the nutritional properties of this fantastic purple vegetable nor the same taste.

Eggplant parmesan in tha baking pan — Eggplant parmesan

Eggplants: why so healthy?

Rich in fiber but low in calories and fat. So they satiate without letting you get fat.
They are part of the group of purple plant and then fight free radicals.
They are delicious cooked and seasoned in many different ways. For example, I dip them into beaten egg and breadcrumbs and bake in the oven. It seems to eat steak if they are done well. Does it seem little to you?
However, they have one big disadvantage: they absorb fats in cooking like sponges. But it is enough to cook in alternative ways to limit all damages ;))

Eggplant recipes listed according to their name (if well known worldwide), cooking method and main ingredients

Apulian parmigiana, baked, mozzarella and parmesan, tomato sauce and sausage

This is one of the many versions for this famous recipe, exactly as it is made in Puglia.

Light parmesan, only baked without frying, mozzarella and tomatoes

Not everyone can eat fried food because too rich in calories and fat. So it is necessary to find alternative methods of cooking. Healthy but tasty recipe!

Neapolitan Parmesan, baked, fiordilatte and parmesan, tomatoes

This is the most known parmigiana recipe in Italy and in the world even if Neapolitans used fiordilatte for their baked dish. You can replace it with mozzarella.

Sicilian parmesan, baked, caciocavallo and tuma, tomatoes

Sicilians are absolutely sure that they had invented the eggplant parmigiana. It may be, but one thing is certain ... they use their own cheese that you can find easily in online shops :)) Suggested links too!

Eggplant and parmesan

You can read something about the story of eggplants, their arrival in Italy (the ancient Romans and Greeks did not know them) and the origin of parmigiana

Fried and stewed, tomatoes

This is a very simple to do recipe you can make in advance. Perfect for your alfresco dinner parties or family menus in the summer.

Baked, filled with meat & vegetables

Aubergines filled with meat & vegetables

This is a tasty Spanish recipe.
Perfect one-plate meals for your family summer menus or get-togethers.

Funghetto, fried or sauteed, garlic and parlsey, tomatoes optional

There are a lot of versions of funghetto eggplants. They are called this way because are cooked with the same method of mushrooms (in Italy funghetto)

Sicilian caponata, stewed, tomatoes and olives, capers and celery

Caponata is well known al over the world. Summer dish to be served as antipasto or side dish.

Stewed, tomatoes and parsley

This is my usual cooking method. Easy and quick to do recipe for my family menus. Mediterranean dish!

Calabria recipe (Melangiani chijni), stuffed and fried, goat cheese

Stuffed aubergines, in Calabria dialect: Melangiani chijni

They are very tasty but rich in calories. This is an authentic recipe from Mammola in Calabria. It was written by a reader of ours and we willingly share it with you!