I don't like Aubergines... find me a recipe that will convince me!

[Sonolanona]

Veggie here, and eat most fruit and veg, but I cannot bring myself to eat aubergines. Every meal I've had with them in.. those spongy weird little lumps ..nope.
I'd like to like them if that makes sense. .. are there any (vegetarian) recipes that I could try that would help?!

Nasu dengaku. I make this one, but use a combination of dark miso and white miso for a deeper flavour:

Miso Glazed Eggplant 茄子の味噌焼き • Just One Cookbook

WOW! Thank you everyone!!!! I shall look at all of these one by one... and work my way through a few recipes. Dh really likes aubergines so he will be very happy, and there has to be a couple that I like

@Sonolanona

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/aubergine-parmigiana-melanzane-alla-parmigiana/

I read that to the tune of 'I Don't Like Monday's'.

Another vote for the burnt aubergine chilli (though if grilling them poke holes in them otherwise they explode DD rechristened it exploded aubergine chilli for some reason....)

yes this
and as an alternative i roast them with halloumi and add to dhal, there is a recipe somewhere

this is lovely
https://www.easypeasyfoodie.com/roasted-aubergine-red-lentil-dhal-vegan/

or sometimes i roast them with red peppers and then make a pasta sauce with them

https://www.dinabegum.co.uk/post/roasted-aubergines-with-garlic-soy

so good!

moussaka
https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/moussaka/

This aubergine recipe is a recent discovery for us and we love it: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/aug/03/rachel-roddy-recipe-aubergine-with-tomatoes-melanzana-al-funghetto

Also, we find aubergines taste much nicer, whether sliced or diced, if you roast them in the oven before adding to dishes.

Hi @Sonolanona

I think your problem is that you’re not cooking them for long enough as you wrote ‘those spongy weird little lumps’
Their texture turns silky and smooth when they’ve been properly cooked, preferably baked slowly, rather than fried quickly, and they are great at absorbing spices.
This is my current favourite aubergine dish
https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/chermoula-aubergine-with-bulgar-and-yoghurt/

It's ok not to like them, I really don't understand trying to force it.

A decent moussaka with a load of cheese is about the only way I can stomach aubergines. I lived in a shared house where everyone else was veggie and the constant aubergine recipes from shared meals made me boak 😆. But really why would you inflict that on yourself intentionally?? There are so many other far nicer vegetable dishes!

I like the burnt aubergine curry (BBC food link above) but I also make this occasionally. Bit different. Joanna Lumley recipe. https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/aubergine-recipes/aubergine-kuzi/

Yottom ottolenghi has a recipe where they are baked and topped with fried onions, chilli and feta. It is delicious.

I love John Torode’s caponata recipe. It’s delicious warm or cold the next day. Am rubbish at links (and pictures, as I’ve just found out🙄), but it’s on the Good Food website.

Shouldn't be spongy.

Slice them really thin and then pan fry in oil, salt and garlic. Delicious and not prongs at all.

Otherwise - soak them in salted water, dry them off, score the insides and rub with honey, garlic, soy sauce and chilli. Then air fry/roast them.

Soaking them makes them more soft and mushy whereas drying makes them crunchy. They're only spongy if they're not cooked properly

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2018/02/14/come-to-bed-parmigiana-vg-v-df-gf/?amp=1

Slice them up fairly thin, and pop them in the oven with plenty of oil and your favourite spicy mix (I use ‘Rub Texan Steakhouse’). Leave them a long time until they’re completely cooked and not at all spongy. I can’t stand the spongyness either but I like them almost mushy. Serve with other roast reg of your choice/halloumi/chips/rice

Cut in half and roast in oven then melt feta cheese on top

https://gasmarkfive.com/2016/03/29/anna-joness-modern-moussaka/ I love this, but I find that if they are grillled I love them in anything.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/roasted-aubergine-with-squash-halloumi-mint-and-bulgur-wheat/

This recipe converted my aubergine hating husband and it's a favourite here. Easy and quick to make and blooming delicious as a salad the next day too