Spiced Eggplant and Tomatoes With Runny Eggs Recipe (2024)

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Bnom

Great solution for those of us with late summer garden bounty. Made with yellow heirloom tomatoes and Japanese eggplant. The nuts add essential texture. Even appealed to my picky husband.

Claire

Really good and, like shakshuka, very riffable. Made with small garden eggplants and yellow pear tomatoes. Added some chilis with the garlic and "clean out the fridge" greens with the tomatoes. Used Spicewalla's delicious garam masala blend. Pine nuts were perfect. Husband's birthday dinner was a hit!

Faye

delicious! I used Melissa Clark's recipe for baharat spice mix, see this recipe%20Search%20Recipe%20Card&pgType=search&rank=4 Next time I will try roasting the eggplant to save fuss & use less oil, Definitely make the pine nut, baharat mix on the stove, add garlic to pan, roasted eggplant, & tomato as per step 4.

CJ

OK, so I overcooked the eggs a tad (hate undercooked eggwhite....ugh) and they were not runny. But this was still delicious! Even though I completely forgot to incorporate the final two sentences of the recipe. I was hungry! I used garam masala, slivered almonds, and a generous amount of basil, parsley and mint. Good thing there is enough leftover eggplant/tomato stew for me to try again tomorrow with another egg and the spiced nuts, etc.

Wendy

Delicious! Great use of end-of-summer vegetables. The eggplant melts into the sauce and isn’t too eggplanty at the end. I threw in chopped yellow onion, yellow squash, green bell pepper and handful of beet greens. I didn’t have baharat so I used “shawarma spice” which I imagine is similar; I also added some dried mint leaves. The herbs I added were basil, mint, parsley and sorrel. I only used two eggs at the end, and served with toast and wedge of feta. Maybe better than usual shakshuka!

Stella

I was surprised how good this is. Like Faye, next time will roast the eggplant. Used garam masala that I had. Eggs took 6 minutes. Still runny. Melissa Clark, still amazing. Much appreciated.

LindaB

Made this as eggplant stew, since I’m not a poached egg fan, but I love eggplant. Garam masala definitely worked as a substitute for baharat, but next time I may try adding some hot pepper with the garlic for a little more heat. I served it over rotini and it was delish!

HMORRISON

Will make again and again. Absolutely delicious. Had to fight for the leftovers. Do not skip the nuts and lemon zest.

Greg

Honestly, besides the no knead bread, this is the best NYT recipe I've tried. A great base to try new things with: I used a reduced amount of berbere spice mix, as well as pistachios and almonds, and it came out delicious! I did depart from the recipe by adding water repeatedly after step 5 if the dish looked too dry.

Heidi

Really good. Had garam masala on hand, so used that (more than the recipe calls for, though). My partner is vegan though I am not, so I tucked one little egg into a corner of the eggplant/tomato stew and folded domino-shaped tofu into the rest. Both worked just fine. Don’t stint on the fresh herbs! They bring this dish over the top.

Pat K

Loved this. Served it with Salsa Verde. Used slice almonds in lieu of pine nuts.

Susan

I have made this quite a few times, it even pleased my wife who dislikes eggplant. Every time it’s a bit different, according to what’s on hand, but always delicious.

Jane

Made half recipe of this tonight with Japanese eggplant, Sungold tomatoes, and herbs from the garden. Didn’t bother with step 1 (eggplant didn’t need it), and used Berbere and garam masala in place of baharat, but otherwise followed recipe exactly. It was delicious! Husband is a fan. Served with slices of homemade bread, but I suspect would also be great with pita/naan/any kind of flatbread.Highly recommend!

Róisín

This was so yummy! Lovely recipe

AKG

This was good, but not great. NYT is pretty much never spicy enough for my palate. If you also like things with a lot of oomph, I recommend more masala, more garlic, and perhaps a mild pepper (like jalapeño, with seeds) or some pepper flakes. That would pump it up a bit.

Darcie Gannon

This is delicious, a wonderful combination of flavors. I do have to comment that following the weights/measurements for the tomato and eggplant, this was more like two servings than four or six! Two not even large servings…

ShannonW

Doubled the baharat and pine nuts and used all mint..delicious! I halved the recipe and it was the perfect light but satisfying dinner for two with wheat pita.

Amelia

Yum! I made as a stew & soft boiled my eggs separately. The toasty slivered almonds were sooo good

GorgeGal

Bless you, Melissa Clark. This was a delicious recipe. I made it as written.

kim

Just in case you have Lebanese 7 spice on hand ( which I did) that is apparently the same as Baharat per a quick google.

my notes

Also I put it in the oven to cook the eggs

Mary

Excellent flavors and use of summer veggies. We didn’t have enough eggplant, so replaced the missing volume with red onion. Yum! Would also be delicious with zucchini.

Liz

Very tasty! Even Ross liked it. Added a chopped browned hatch Chile pepper after browning the eggplant. Herbs were parsley, basil, Thai basil (great addition) and a little cilantro. Prep everything before starting to cook...

Amanda

Absolutely delicious, followed the recipe as written and it was perfect--a definite keeper. Except I had no baharat so used ras el hanout, which worked superbly. Served with a lightly toasted halved baguette to mop up the sauce. Thanks to other readers for suggestions of nuts, feta, etc. I will try those next time. An excellent way to showcase late summer veggies.

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Spiced Eggplant and Tomatoes With Runny Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cooking eggplant? ›

Eggplants are known to absorb a lot of fat while cooking. A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour. This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

Can we eat egg and eggplant together? ›

The culinary wordplay of combining eggplant and eggs was pleasing to me, and I liked the way the yolks broke into a sauce over the savory vegetables in the pan. Slivered almonds can be used in place of the pine nuts for a similar crunch.

Does eggplant need to be soaked before baking? ›

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

Why do you soak eggplant in water? ›

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

What makes eggplant taste good? ›

The oil still left in the eggplant tissues contributes to the soft, buttery texture that's so appealing. Oil also carries the essence of added herbs and spices, so that eggplant dishes can become rich with the aromas and heady flavors of onions, peppers, anchovies, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice.

Why do you put an egg in eggplant? ›

First recorded in 1763, the word "eggplant" was originally applied to white cultivars, which look very much like hen's eggs (see image). Similar names are widespread in other languages, such as the Icelandic term eggaldin or the Welsh planhigyn ŵy.

What not to eat with eggplant? ›

There are no specific foods that you should avoid eating after consuming brinjal (eggplant). Brinjal is a versatile vegetable and can be consumed with a wide variety of foods. However, if you have any personal dietary restrictions or allergies, you should adhere to those guidelines.

When should you not eat eggplant? ›

When looking at the exterior of the eggplant, check the stem and cap. Both should be green and fresh-looking. If they are starting to fade in color, that's an indicator that the vegetable may be spoiling. You'll also want to toss the eggplant if there is any mold on the stem or cap.

Why can't some people eat eggplant? ›

Eggplant also contains a chemical called salicylate, which is an ingredient in aspirin. This means people with an aspirin allergy or salicylate sensitivity may also be more likely to develop an eggplant allergy or intolerance to too much salicylate. Typically, an eggplant allergy will develop in early childhood.

How do you get the most flavor out of eggplant? ›

Salting: One common method is salting the eggplant slices or cubes before cooking. This process helps draw out the bitter compounds and excess moisture. Here's how to do it:Slice or cube the eggplant as desired. Sprinkle salt over the eggplant pieces and let them sit for about 30 minutes.

Why put salt on eggplant before cooking? ›

Salting eggplant is often explained on two points: The first point contends that eggplants can be quite bitter, and salting helps cut the bitterness. (No, salt doesn't draw out bitterness. It just helps hide it.) Second, salting eggplants reduces the sponginess and leaves you with a creamy, silky texture.

What happens if you don't salt eggplant before cooking? ›

It helps draw out moisture from the eggplant. You don't have to salt eggplant though, it depends on the texture your looking for. Salting gives it a more creamy texture when cooked and not salting helps the eggplant hold up and be a little firmer after cooked.

Why does my eggplant taste bitter? ›

Eggplants can have the alkaloid solanine, which can give it a bitter taste. “Another compound possibly contributing to eggplant's bitterness is anthocyanin, which is a phytochemical that gives eggplant its pretty purple hue and can act like an antioxidant when we consume it,” says Nichole Dandrea-Russert, MS, RDN.

Why do you soak eggplant in vinegar? ›

Why do you soak eggplant in water and vinegar? Soaking eggplant in water and vinegar helps remove some of the vegetable's natural bitterness. This step also helps preserve some of the skin's color so it stays a vibrant purple even after cooking.

Do you have to wash eggplant? ›

First of all it is essential to wash the eggplants well; pass them under cold running water. With a sharp knife, remove the eggplant base and cap. You can decide to remove the peel or to leave it. Of course this depends on both your tastes and the recipe you are about to prepare.

How do you cook eggplant so it's not spongy? ›

“The absorptiveness of eggplant can be reduced by collapsing its spongy structure before frying,” he writes. Which you can do by microwaving it before frying (!) or salting slices that'll draw out the water and close up those air pockets, giving you a firmer flesh to work with.

Do you always have to salt eggplant before cooking? ›

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

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