Can I fry aubergine?

[AintNobodyHereButUsRavens]

DD wanted to try Aubergine so I bought one for us to try (I've never tried it either). I thought I could do it to go with our roast chicken dinner today. But wasn't sure what to do with it exactly. I always fry up some courgette to go with my sunday dinner and wondering if I can chuck the aubergine in the pan too?

Yeah but it does suck up oil

Slice it and sprinkle with salt. Leave for half an hour and then rinse / gently squeeze. That should get rid of excess moisture within the aubergine.

Fry it really well and it tastes divine!

Make sure the oil is hot first, what about adding tomatoes and onion and making a rataouille

Or just put large chunks of it (or even halves) in the oven around the chicken when you bake it

I wouldn’t do it with courgette personally.

Aubergine takes longer than you think.

Also delicious if you fry it then add some tinned tomatoes and garlic.

It cooks well in the oven too. Just cut in half and cover with foil and a little oil. You don’t want it to burn.

Aubergine parmigiana is amazing. I would eat it on its own but really it comes into its own in a dish with cheese and garlic!

Could you do a parmigiana to go alongside your chicken? Jamie Oliver has a recipe.

Definitely salt it first to draw out the moisture. I have it griddled with herbs/spices on, wouldn’t have it totally plain. Best marinated and roasted, or made into baba ganoush

Yes, you can dice and fry it, but it will use a lot of oil - you can dry-fry it until it starts to go brown then add the oil. I usually roast slices of it as that uses less oil - takes 45 min though.
Diced and fried with garlic and five-spice goes well with stir-fried veg and noodles for a veggie meal.

I follow Nigel Slater and never bother salting it.

Another vote for chopping it into wedges and roasting in the oven with a drizzle of oil and some whole garlic cloves.

I never salt it either personally. I read that we don’t need to these days.

IMHE you can actually use water instead of oil to cook it in. It still gets that lovely soft effect.

I love aubergines ❤️🍆

I don't think they need salting now either
It microwaves well and can add butter and salt

Aubergine is gorgeous if cooked well but can be vile if done badly. It needs salt, plenty of oil, and plenty of time.

My favourite and easiest way is - cut lenthwise unto 6 or 8 wedges depending on the size. As pp said, sprinkle with a little salt then leave for half an hour. Rinse and pat dry with kitchen roll - the salt will be rinsed away and will draw out some of the excess water and make for a nicer roasting. Pour olive oil onto a dinner plate and dip each wedge in on both cut sides to ensure fully coated. Arrange on a baking tray cut sides up. Sprinkle with spices (I like to use a shawarma blend which is Pepper, Garlic Powder, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, Oregano, Cardamom, Chilli Powder, Cloves - but other blends would also work.

Roast for abut 25 minutes.

I never salt aubergine.