[Roasted baby eggplants with mustard vinaigrette]
[Raw baby eggplants]
I saw these at the vegetable market and I couldn’t resist. I’m a big fan of miniature vegies and especially love the vibrant purple colour of these baby eggplants. It’s such a shame that the colour doesn’t keep when you roast them. Maybe next time I’ll try steaming them to preserve it.
Eggplants are absolutely delicious roasted where the firm flesh becomes soft and the bitter taste mellows to a deeply savoury and smoky flavour. I think they make a wonderful starter served with a sharp mustard vinaigrette and garnished with spring onions or scallions. I like serving the dressing on the side in cute little spoons so that my guests can add it as they go.
Because of the mini size they are also perfect as canapes. Simply serve individually topped with a slice of mozzarella and a fresh basil leaf. Perfecto!
Happy cooking, Christie
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Roasted baby eggplant with mustard vinaigrette
serves 4 as a starter
8 baby eggplants
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt
Vinaigrette
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Spring onions / Scallions to garnish
Slice the baby eggplants in half length ways and place cut side up in a single layer on a large roasting tray. Sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, season with sea salt and roast for 20-25 minutes until tender. Pierce the centre of one with the tip of a sharp knife to test if it’s done. It should be very soft in the centre with the skin crisped around the edges.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together all the ingredients until combined.
Serve 4 halves per person on small plates. Scatter over the onions and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Or serve the dressing separately if you like.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Fearless Kitchen // May 10, 2008 at 1:02 am
This looks great - very simple, but very delicious. I like your canape idea too!
2 michelle @ TNS // May 10, 2008 at 2:32 am
those are truly adorable vegetables, and they look so perfectly roasted.
3 diva // May 10, 2008 at 2:37 am
those eggplants are so cute! beautiful vinaigrette too
x
4 Clarie // May 10, 2008 at 2:39 am
What you call “Baby Eggplant” are not “baby” or an immature vegetable (actually botantically it’s a fruit), but is a mature variety of eggplant often called “Indian Eggplant”.
5 Hillary // May 10, 2008 at 4:03 am
Whoa! Looks amazzzing. I have never had baby eggplant before but I imagine I would love it.
6 tangobaby // May 10, 2008 at 9:06 am
To me, eggplants usually scream out for green curry and coconut milk, but I am going to branch out and try your vinaigrette. Yum!
7 Din // May 10, 2008 at 10:30 am
Beautiful pics Christie!
8 noble pig // May 11, 2008 at 6:53 am
I have never heard or seen of baby eggplants…so cute and I bet they were wonderful once roasted up.
9 Christie // May 11, 2008 at 11:29 am
Hi Fearless Kitchen,
Thanks! The canape is so easy to make and the creamy mozarella goes so well with the earthy eggplant.
Hi Michelle,
Luckily I got it just right this time.
Cheers for the roasting compliment - it’s a fine line between crisped and burnt
Hi Diva,
Thanks, glad you like it!
Hi Clarie,
Thanks for clearing that up! Whatever they’re called, they’re delicious
Hi Hillary,
I bet you would! They taste just like the big version, but just look cuter.
Hello again Tangobaby,
I agree that eggplants are a match made in heaven in Thai curries, especially the little pea sized ones. I like to change it up though, you know?
Hi Din,
Thank you, you’re too kind.
Hi Noble Pig, (Love that name!)
They were absolutely scrumptious, give em a try!
10 Kim // May 12, 2008 at 11:53 am
Love it Christie! My kind of food and the pics are fantastic……….
11 tigerfish // May 12, 2008 at 7:15 pm
That mustard vinaigrette sounds like something that can make me eat eggplants. Yup-I am not a fan of egg plants. But with vinaigrette…maybe….:D
12 Christie // May 13, 2008 at 11:53 am
Hi Kim,
Thank you! I’m pretty happy with the pics too
Hi Tigerfish,
Hmmm, glad I could change your mind!
13 Pixie // May 13, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Hi Christie,
I absolutely adore eggplant but have yet to try baby ones. Wondering of the difference in taste. I’ll have to ‘hunt’ them down one day to find out!
Pix
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