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Eggplants are a summer bumper crop. If your garden is healthy and the weather cooperates, you can expect dozens of purple fruits before the weather cools in the fall. Once when I was younger, we planted half a dozen plants in our vegetable garden and got a HUGE harvest from July to September. We had so many that we were giving eggplants away by the bagful! If you are interested in growing eggplant in your home garden, Bonnie Plants has excellent resources for gardeners. If you like us, we hope you will enjoy this Chili Roasted Eggplant recipe made with honey.
What to Do With Too Many Eggplants: Roasted Eggplant Recipe
Since eggplant is mildly flavored, you have many options when it comes time to cook them. When cooking eggplant, it's important to address the issues of bitterness and salting. Roasted eggplant is a refreshing step away from other recipes that are typically fried or smothered in pasta sauce. In the oven, as it roasts, the eggplant sweetens and develops a more complex flavor profile. Chili oil adds heat to the recipe, and the Eastern Shore Honey will caramelize and create a slight crunch around the edges.
Make sure that you use smaller fresh-picked eggplants. Larger eggplants that have been off the stem a while are bitter and require a little extra work to remove that bitterness by covering them in kosher salt and allowing them to sweat for a few hours before using them in any recipe. This step is not necessary if you are using eggplants that are fresh-picked. Salting eggplant before roasting can help remove bitterness, especially if the eggplant is large or if there are concerns about bitterness.
How to Make Roasted Eggplant
The chili oil called for in this oven roasted eggplant recipe is very simple to whip up. Chili oil holds up well for a few weeks when refrigerated, so make a big batch to keep on hand. Adding whole garlic cloves or peppercorns to the oil while it cooks would be a great way to add more flavor to the finished product.
Step One: Gather your ingredients and prepare the chili oil, drizzle with olive oil
You will need heirloom eggplants, our honey, chili oil, garlic, salt and pepper, cilantro, olive oil, red pepper flakes, paprika, and fresh lemon juice.
For the oil: In a small saucepan, heat oil and add 4 tsp. Red pepper flakes. Heat for 4-5 minutes. Allow cooling. Use a sieve to strain out cooked pepper flakes from the oil. Pour infused oil over the remaining 4 tsp—of red pepper flakes into a sterilized glass jar in your refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper before placing the eggplant slices.
Step Two: Prepare the Eggplant on a baking sheet
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Wash and dry the eggplant. Remove the top stem and base of the eggplant. Stand the eggplant vertically and cut it into thick slices. Alternatively, you can cut the eggplant into cubed eggplant for roasting. Meanwhile, emulsify garlic, honey, and chili oil in a medium bowl. Place eggplant onto a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season with a dash of salt and pepper, and cover both sides with marinade.
Step Three: Oven Roast the Marinated Eggplant and serve oven roasted eggplant
Roast for about 15 minutes or until soft and golden, transforming the eggplant into a delicious oven roasted eggplant. The roasted eggplant slices will be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich, savory flavor.
Serve with goat cheese and toasted crusty bread.
Adapting our Roasted Eggplant Recipe
A recipe is not perfect until you’ve added your touch. That’s why we encourage you to play with your food. Call your inner chef to come out and play and change up this recipe. Here are some ideas:
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Cut the spice by swapping out the chili oil for plain olive oil. A baked eggplant recipe is a versatile option for various dishes.
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Add minced herbs as a garnish when you take the eggplant out of the oven. You can also use the roasted eggplant in eggplant parmesan.
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Try this on the grill for a rich smoky flavor. Serve the roasted eggplant with tahini sauce or layer it with tomato sauce for a different flavor profile.
