Broiled Eggplant is the kind of dish that slips up and down menus, as an antipasto, an entrée, or a side dish, rounding out any number of meals with little effort. Here are some possibilities:
• Broiled Eggplant sprinkled with olive oil and vinegar as an antipasto before Spaghetti with Pecorino and Black Pepper (see page 194) or Pasta Fresca (see page 184).
• Broiled Eggplant topped with sesame oil and lemon, followed by Udon Noodles and Vegetables (see page 136) and spinach or green beans.
• Broiled Eggplant sprinkled with feta cheese, served with Mediterranean Lentil Salad (see page 131) and imported olives.
• Broiled Eggplant served with chunks of boiled potatoes, a steamed green vegetable, and Aioli (see page 107).
oil (olive oil, vegetable oil, sesame oil, or hot sesame oil)
eggplants (1 Japanese eggplant serves 2, 1 medium eggplant serves 4)
salt and ground black pepper
Using a pastry brush, coat a baking sheet with oil. If you’re using a large eggplant, cut it into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. If you’re using Japanese or small eggplants, cut them lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange the slices in a single layer on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the slices with oil.
Broil a few inches from the heat for 7 to 12 minutes, until the slices are golden brown. Turn the baking sheet once if your broiler heat is uneven. If the interior is still too firm when the outside is browned, bake the eggplant at 400° for a few minutes until soft. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
PER 4-OZ SERVING: 34 CALORIES, 1 G PROTEIN, 0.3 G FAT, 7.8 G CARBOHYDRATE, 86 MG SODIUM, 0 MG CHOLESTEROL.
TOTAL TIME
15 minutes
MENU
Broiled Eggplant can be arranged on a platter, either plain or with a sprinkling of extra-virgin olive oil, Salsa Verde (see page 105), Pesto (see page 362), Miso Sauce (see page 113), Lemon Sesame Dressing (see page 98), or Spicy Peanut Dip (see page 50).
This recipe has infinite variations. Broiled Eggplant can be served hot or at room temperature. Leftovers are good in sandwiches or chopped for a pasta sauce or pizza topping.