What To Make With What’s On Sale: Eggplant

It’s time for What To Make With What’s On Sale! This week at Sunflower Market, large eggplants are $0.88 each, which is about as cheap as they get!

When buying an eggplant, be sure to choose one that’s firm and heavy for its size. The skin should be smooth and free of bruises or discoloration. It’s best to store eggplants in the refrigerator until ready to use.

The eggplant is a surprisingly versatile vegetable — here are some ideas for how to use it!

Ratatouille, a traditional French dish that includes eggplant, can be made in several different ways. This version — Emeril Lagasse’s Ratatouille — looks fairly simple to make. The vegetables are diced, sauteed together, and seasoned with fresh herbs. A little Romano or other hard cheese grated over the top would make it even tastier!

The Best Eggplant Parmesan: Image from Taste of Home

This recipe, The Best Eggplant Parmesan, really is the best! It takes some time to put together, but it’s worth it, in my opinion. Be aware that the recipe makes two 9×13-inch pans!

If you like the idea of eggplant parmesan but don’t want to spend that much time in the kitchen, try this easy Eggplant Parmesan Bruschetta. It’s great for lunch or as an appetizer.

Here’s another yummy appetizer or side dish: Deep Fried Eggplant. Even those who are anti-eggplant will likely enjoy this recipe!

Deep Fried Eggplant: Image from Food Network

The Pioneer Woman has a fabulous recipe for Baba Ghanoush, a traditional Middle Eastern spread made with eggplant. (I know The Pioneer Woman isn’t typically known for her ethnic dishes, but she hit the nail on the head with this baba ghanoush!) Serve it as a dip with any type of bread or crackers. It’s also good as a sandwich spread!

Eggplant dishes are common in Asian cuisine. This Stir-Fried Asian Eggplant is easy and very flavorful, and it’s probably less greasy than the eggplant you’d get at a restaurant!

What’s your favorite way to prepare eggplant?

Be sure to check out the What To Make With What’s On Sale archives for more meal-planning ideas!