Aubergine Love, Part 2

I did my first Aubergine Love post back in January, always knowing there'd be a sequel. I didn't forget. Three months later, here it is.

I think the purpose initially for the part 2 was to include other recipes I'd tried with eggplant that were hits and misses. Most of them were made 3-5 months ago so my memory isn't quite as fresh.

Anyway, the other week, the grocery was selling graffiti eggplant: pretty and unique. I later found out that I didn't need to salt it beforehand to get rid of bitterness. These are naturally less bitter than the giant purple ones you usually find in the grocery.

Say yes to graffiti eggplant. Pleasing to the eye as well as to the stomach.

On to the dishes:

One of my favorites but can be a lil time consuming to make is an Ottolenghi adapted recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Baked Orzo with Eggplant and Mozzarella. I kind of preferred it with shredded mozzarella even though she suggests using firm mozzarella. Totally delicious and the lemon zest really brightens up the dish.

Also tasty: Moussaka. I dumbed down a couple versions I'd found online (here and here) since I didn't hunt down authentic cheese. Nevertheless, it tastes like pasta with a Greek kick (cinnamon). Also time consuming but a nice way to get into eggplant since it's hidden underneath a lot of flavors.

sorry, didn't turn out very pretty. def didn't wait enough for cheese to brown. i got too hungry!

This Roasted Eggplant and Brown Rice Salad recipe was also a favorite. I love the saltiness of olives and feta so this was right up my alley. I've also been into farro and barley so these could be subbed into the salad as well.

And one more dish, which is great because I have a soft spot for Israeli couscous. This was probably my least favorite out of all of the recipes I tried because I don't really remember what it tastes like (and I made it five months ago). Eggplant and Tomato Sauce with Israeli Couscous:

I'm being a little self-indulgent by listing these recipes I like only because I'm so shocked at how far I've come with eggplant. I don't have a long list of foods I hate but eggplant used to be at the top. So here's a pat on my back for giving it a chance and finding it frequently in my grocery store cart.