Sumptuous Fried Eggplant (Vegetarian)

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When I first got married I didn't cook. The kitchen scared me and I avoided it as much as I did growing up. On the very rare occasion that I actually went into the kitchen it was pancakes from a box, muffins from a box, heating frozen foods or making Mexican style scrambled eggs. You may be wondering how my poor husband and I survived, delivery and take out. Eventually that caught up with us and we paid for it with our waistlines. But I still didn't cook, stupid.

During those years my husband occasionally cooked for us. He is a fantastic cook and I loved and still love everything he cooks for me. His scrambled eggs are the best in the world! Some of the foods my husband cooked for us were dishes that he grew up with. His family is from the Midwest and so it was foods like bratwurst, sauerkraut, pierogies, and many other delicious hearty foods. Those foods and dishes were so different from the Mexican foods I grew up with, but you know what ?I have loved everything he has introduced me to. Nowadays I do the majority of the cooking and some of the things I cook are dishes that he used to cook for me. We always joke that our children will grow up eating things like pierogies and bratwurst with salsa, or curry with tortillas. It all sounds funny but we will see.

One of the food that my husband introduced me to was eggplant. I had never eaten an eggplant before, I don't think they are used in Mexican cuisine? He told me that growing up his mom would slice eggplant, batter it and deep fry it. The first time he made battered fried eggplant I was addicted immediately. I ate so many slices that I could hardly fit the main dish. My husband said his mom served the eggplant as a side dish. He also served it as a side dish to spaghetti. Actually it is spaghetti with slices of eggplant on top the noodles and more spaghetti sauce over the eggplant. This spaghetti with eggplant is unlike any other pasta, perfect as an every day meal but yet sumptuous enough to serve at a dinner party. I now serve it with my "Shpaghetti" spaghetti, recipe is here : What do The Godfather and A Scruffy Terrier Have In Common?

Breaded Fried Eggplant for 2:
1 eggplant
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 or 2 large eggs lightly beaten*

sunflower oil for frying
plate lined with paper towels
thongs

* For Vegan version replace eggs with ground flaxseed mixed with water.**

1. Heat oil in a deep heavy pan or skillet. The oil should cover 1/2 inch or 1.5 cm deep. Have a plate covered with paper towels and thongs ready. Cut off the stem and bottom of a clean eggplant. Slice the eggplant into thin coin slices then set aside. In a large bowl combine the breadcrumbs with the spices, set aside. In a separate bowl lightly beat the egg(s) .

2. The oil should come to a heat of 365f or 185c. If you do not have a thermometer then do a test, the eggplant coin should be golden brown in about 4-5 minutes. It is very important for the oil to be warm/hot enough otherwise the eggplant will absorb too much oil. Dip each eggplant slice into the beaten egg, then dredge in the breadcrumbs. Place the breaded eggplant coins in the oil and fry until golden brown on both sides.

3. Place the fried eggplant slices on top of the plate with paper towels to drip off extra oil. Serve right away. Goes perfect with Shpaghetti and a glass of red wine.

My little family loves battered fried eggplant so much, even my scruffy terrier love its! My puppy is weird and I am not suggesting that you feed your dogs eggplant. Here is the evidence, a bad photo but you get the picture. (No pun intended)

P.S

In case you missed it my first recipe was published on my Mexico On My Plate column. If you'd like to stop by click here to visit Honest Cooking, The Food Magazine.

"Mexico On My Plate: Spicy Fresh Fruit Cocktail"

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