Peel the 2 eggplants in a striped pattern and soak them in salted water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, rinse and pat dry. Dice the eggplants into cubes in a bowl. Pour half a tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp) of vegetable oil over them and toss to coat. Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a 200°C (400°F) oven until golden. (You may also fry them in oil if you prefer.)

Crush 1 large garlic clove into a bowl of strained yogurt and stir to combine. Transfer the baked eggplant to a serving plate, pour the prepared yogurt over the top, mix together, and serve.

About This Recipe

Botanical dictionaries describe eggplant in these terms: “a long-lived cultivated plant that grows as an annual in temperate climates and as a small, continuously growing tree in tropical climates.” Native to India, eggplant first spread to Iran and from there to other Asian countries. Thomas Jefferson was the first to bring eggplant to America — he enjoyed growing various crops in the garden of his Virginia home. By cultivating eggplant there, he is widely credited with helping to spread this wonderful ingredient throughout the entire country.

In certain parts of Europe, eggplant was once believed to cause madness, and even health problems such as leprosy, cancer, and bad breath — which is why it went virtually unconsumed for many years. So, contrary to popular belief, its entry into European cuisines, including Italian cuisine, is relatively recent. In fact, eggplant has a neutral flavor and, botanically speaking, does not have many distinguishing characteristics compared to other vegetables, nor does it come in a great variety of types. Yet it is a prized ingredient both in Indian cuisine — one of the most exotic in the world — and in Mediterranean food culture, where it has become truly indispensable. Eggplant ranks among the world’s most popular “edible plants.” After India, it is consumed most in the Mediterranean countries — especially Turkey — followed by East Asian countries and Latin America.

Just like our previously prepared Carrots with Yogurt, our Eggplant with Yogurt recipe is brimming with both health and flavor. Enjoy…