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Aubergines. Why?


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Old 20-07-2014, 14:55
Trsvis_Bickle
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I've tried cooking with aubergines several times and just can't see the point of them. They seem to taste of nothing and have this horrible, slimy texture. I've tried grilling, baking etc and nothing seems to make them palatable.

Last night the Mem Sahib made a sort of aubergine bake with tomato sauce and mozzarella in a last-ditch attempt to convert me. The aubergines were from our garden so couldn't be any fresher. Apart from a vague, earthy sensation, they seemed once more, tasteless. The sensation of eating them was rather like chewing wet newspaper.

So; aubergines. Love them or hate them? Have you got a favourite recipe?
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Old 20-07-2014, 15:03
Teddybleads
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Love aubergines. Score and oil them whole under grill Turing every five of twenty mins. then peel off the charred skin and eat with feta and pesto or a garlic and parsley pesto.
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Old 20-07-2014, 15:11
swingaleg
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It's one of the veg I've rediscovered after many years

I just chop them up into small cubes and make a curry with other veg.......you want a variety of veg in a curry !
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Old 20-07-2014, 17:08
Shrike
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They don't have much flavour - though they pick up ghee wonderfully in a curry
They make a good filler - I like to halve them, hollow them out, mix the removed bits with cooked lamb mince/tomato then stuff it all back in the halfs, top with cheese and then steam.
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Old 20-07-2014, 17:56
LaceyLouelle3
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I'm not a fan, much prefer courgettes.
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Old 20-07-2014, 17:58
Danny_Silver
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Good post, I know exactly what you mean op, no taste nothing, I used to not like them.

But they do look good in any food. I always buy them, £1 a bowl at the market.

I like to shallow fry them with onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and peppers.

Yum.
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:10
molliepops
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I use them instead of pasta layering them up in a lasagnery way, courgettes work well like that too.
Yummy if seasoned correctly.
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:11
Welsh-lad
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I use them, but only to bulk things out.

They're very bland. I dislike avocado for this reason.
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:13
Welsh-lad
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I use them instead of pasta layering them up in a lasagnery way.
Basically moussaka then.
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:32
degsyhufc
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Aubergine parmagiana is my prefered aubegine dish.
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:56
Danny_Silver
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I use them, but only to bulk things out.

They're very bland. I dislike avocado for this reason.

I said this a few years ago.

Now I love them, certainly not bland, add a very tiny bit of salt, scoop it with a t-spoon.

Yum

They say our taste buds change has we get older?
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Old 20-07-2014, 18:57
Victoria Sponge
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I like it roasted.
And I like it how my mum does it, cut into pieces and deep-fried. Delicious.
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Old 20-07-2014, 19:23
molliepops
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Basically moussaka then.
Not really I meant use them like pasta not the recipe called lasagne. I don't use pasta and keep carbs as low as I can, aubergine and courgette can be used in place of pasta in many recipes.
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Old 20-07-2014, 20:47
queenshaks
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I used to hate them as a kid but quite like them now.

There's a mauritian recipe called gateau bringelle (cake aubergine)

You make a batter with chick pea flour (besan), add spices and fresh herbs like coriander and mint chopped and season - add water to make a batter. Dip in thin sliced aubergine and fry till batter is crispy.

Quite delicious.

pic
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Old 20-07-2014, 23:11
PrincessTT
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I love aubergines and they always go down well with the kids...

I made a minted aubergine & courgette cous cous salad last week which was delicious.
I use them loads in pasta sauces & curries and I often do a chicken traybake with aubergines in it.
I do stuffed aubergines these days as well as they're easier to carry home than marrows.
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Old 20-07-2014, 23:23
Muze
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I use them instead of lasagne for a vegan version... one of those ingredients you need to add flavour to IMO but still useful
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Old 21-07-2014, 00:59
Pixie Queen
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On one of the many TV cookery shows (including masterchef the world etc) a chef/cook diced the aubergines, boiled them for a wee while (don't know how long) in salted water then drained them. Next thing he deep fried them - not sure if he coated in seasoned flour first or not. I'm thinking of giving this a go and see how they turn out.
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Old 21-07-2014, 05:06
Trsvis_Bickle
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I used to hate them as a kid but quite like them now.

There's a mauritian recipe called gateau bringelle (cake aubergine)

You make a batter with chick pea flour (besan), add spices and fresh herbs like coriander and mint chopped and season - add water to make a batter. Dip in thin sliced aubergine and fry till batter is crispy.

Quite delicious.

pic
Interesting and nice photo. Do you deep or shallow-fry (or does it make no difference)?
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Old 21-07-2014, 11:35
dellab49
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you can turn them from bland to tasty, by adding other things.
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Old 21-07-2014, 12:07
Shrike
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you can turn them from bland to tasty, by adding other things.
I think thats the key with them - they form a nice base to add other flavours. Of course, if you don't like the texture then they clearly aren't for you
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Old 21-07-2014, 12:10
Welsh-lad
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you can turn them from bland to tasty, by adding other things.
I agree.... but they are inherently bland if you have to add something to them to give them a palatable flavour.

They end up tasting of the thing you added!
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Old 21-07-2014, 20:44
queenshaks
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Interesting and nice photo. Do you deep or shallow-fry (or does it make no difference)?
Shallow fry. You can make a chutney with it to take away to 'rich' flavour.

A bunch of coriander, one/two cloves of galic (depending how strong you like it, a tomato, 1/2 chillies (again depending on your taste) and salt (to taste) - blitz it all up. It'll make a sauce like this pic.

Dip your aubergine fritter in it - it's yum

recipe

Edit - you can deep fry too.

click on the picture for actual measurements
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Old 21-07-2014, 21:00
haphash
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Aubergine parmagiana is my prefered aubegine dish.
Delicious, wish I had one now
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Old 21-07-2014, 21:05
postit
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Very appetising-looking vegetables, utterly gross when cooked imo
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Old 21-07-2014, 21:23
degsyhufc
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Delicious, wish I had one now
Second favourite is a cous cous/bulgar wheat salad with fried aubergines and other fried spiced veg such as corgettes, red onions, roasted red peppers etc and lots of fresh herbs.

A bit like ratatouille without the tomato sauce.
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