Whether you call them brinjals, aubergines or eggplants, cooking these veggies can sometimes be a challenge as they can get mushy or retain a bitter flavour. But when cooked well, they are so delicious and can be used in multiple tasty ways!
Brinjals are high in nutrients and fibre for a relatively low-calorie vegetable. They contain folate, potassium, Vitamin C and K and antioxidants. Here, we show you the best ways to cook your brinjals and tasty ways to add them to your meals.
Brinjals on the Braai
Brinjals love high heat and turn out beautifully when cooked over the coals, whether whole or as “steaks”.
1. Cook them whole if you want to scoop out the soft flesh to make a dipping sauce or spread like baba ganoush or if you’d like to serve them as a feature veg. Poke the whole brinjals with a fork, oil the skin with olive oil and place over a medium-to-high heat and grill until the skin has charred and the inside is soft.
Try this baba ganoush recipe here.
2. Make brinjal steaks with thick slices. Cut your brinjals 1 to 1.5cm thick lengthways. Place them on a griddle tray and season lightly with salt and pepper and drizzle or brush or spray with olive oil. (We recommend using an olive oil spray because aubergines tend to suck up a lot of oil!). Grill, turning half way through, until the flesh has a golden coating. Remove and serve as a great meat replacement. Or layer the brinjal slices on a large platter and drizzle with tahini sauce.
Brinjals in the Air Fryer
Cooking brinjals in a pan is an easy way to prepare the veg for multiple other dishes, such as prepping slices for a lasagne or pan-frying cubes of brinjals to add to salads, side dishes or even brinjal curries. However, they tend to suck up so much oil, so, instead, we recommend cooking the brinjals in an air fryer. Toss the sliced brinjals into a large ziplock bag and add a few spritzes of olive oil and seasoning. Give the bag a good shake to coat the brinjal cubes or slices. Add to the air fryer and cook on the grill or bake setting.
Looking for a great side dish or comforting bowl of veggies? Try this caponata recipe here.
<subhead> Brinjals in the Oven
Keep in mind that brinjals cook well in high heat, so preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with baking paper and begin prepping your brinjals. Instead Slice each brinjal into segments, start by halving, then quartering, then cutting each quarter into 2 to 3 segments, depending on the size of the brinjal. Layer pieces on the baking-paper lined tray and spray or brush with olive oil. Pop into the oven and bake for around 30 minutes, turning halfway, until golden.
We have some great Dutch oven dishes that use brinjals. Visit our recipe resource folder for these ideas and more! We have a great ratatouille recipe that’s a winner for meal-planning. Find it here: https://medshieldmovement.co.za/the-best-ratatouille-recipe-and-5-ways-to-eat-it/