At the end of the week, brinjal is the last vegetable that remains in the fridge. But now the problem comes when you don't have anything else to cook to postpone using brinjal in dishes. While thinking about making something with brinjal, the curry recipes pop into the mind first. But not every time you want to eat it.
Instead, you can move on from gravies to make something even better to satisfy your late-night hunger. Despite making the heavily spiced gravies that you can only eat with rice or roti, try converting it to the main dish and nibbling it while you watch your favourite TV shows.
From light chips to wholesome skillets, check out what you can make with brinjal tonight.
1) Brinjal Bread Sticks
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The mild flavour and stiff texture with less moisture make brinjal a versatile vegetable to cook in many different ways. Just like potatoes, brinjal can be turned into bite-sized crispy sticks for late-night snacking. All you have to do is cut brinjal to long dice, coat it with slurry and breadcrumbs, and air fry or bake until crispy golden.
2) One-Pot Brinjal Pulao
Brinjal pulao is a satisfying recipe that can fill your stomach with just a small portion. For this, brinjal is stir-fried with the basic onion-garlic paste along with pulao masala, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala and coriander powder. Then, other vegetables like carrots, capsicum and peas are added. Once tender, uncooked rice goes in, and it is filled with water to pressure cook for two whistles.
3) Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a French dish made with stewed vegetables. The recipe features brinjal (eggplant), zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, herbs and seasonings. The ingredients are sauteed together to create an aromatic stir fry and served as a side dish or main course.
4) Thai Eggplant Curry
Thai eggplant curry is a perfect recipe for a busy weeknight, as it comes together in just 30 minutes. In it, eggplant is simmered in rich coconut-milk-based curry sauce. It is often spiced with green curry paste and enhanced with ingredients like lemongrass, garlic, Thai basil, and kaffir lime leaves. You can make your own version by altering ingredients to match what you have in the kitchen. Serve it with rice or roti, and it's truly going to be your ultimate satisfaction.
5) Zaalouk (Spicy Eggplant Bharta)
Zaalouk is Moroccan-style baingan bharta loaded with spices and condiments. The recipe features a blend of cooked eggplants and tomatoes, creating a savoury salad dish for snacking at any time. For this, eggplant is roasted on a grill and skin is peeled. The inside meat is combined with tomato puree and seasoned with all the standard spices and garlic. You can pair it with roti or chips.
6) Eggplant Boats
The long, stiff eggplants can be carved into boats to hold up all the toppings you like and be a fun time treat for the night. Just cut the brinjal in half, scoop out the middle part with a spoon and load it with chopped vegetables of your choice, spices, cheese or bits of meat. Then oven-bake it until everything is well cooked.
7) Eggplant Mini Pizza
Brinjal, chopped to thick circles, can be a perfect crust to hold your pizza toppings. The bite-sized pizza nibbles are not only delicious but also a healthier alternative to traditional pizza. You can go creative with the toppings and choose a variety of chopped vegetables, proteins and cheese to make it your own way.