Who said there aren't tasty ways to enjoy eating healthy, fresh veggies? And frying them like chips, is definitely one of the best of them. Well removing some of their nutritional value by cooking them in hot oil, but hey, if you ain't gonna eat them at all then something is better then nothing. But that's not the point here. The point is, that these Fried Eggplant Slices are S-C-R-U-M-P-T-I-O-U-S! Plus they're served with a spicy tomato sauce to dip them in which is sooo good.
Fried Eggplant Slices - A Favorite Greek Appetizer
Have you ever seen a Greek eat at a Taverna (Greek type of restaurant)? You'd probably see half of the dishes from the menu right on his table. While he will be instructing the waiter to bring him also this and that (Yeap, we eat a lot). And these Fried Eggplant Slices will probably on that table. They're in fact a Traditional Greek Appetizer. Without the sauce though which is my inspiration. ?
But other than the Eggplants, we have fried Zucchinis as well. And since I haven't uploaded the recipe for this yet, I hope these Zucchini Fritters will make up for it. They are also very easy to make. Just mix the ingredients and fry the mix.
How They Are Made
It's as simple as washing and cutting the eggplants into slices, coat them with flour and fry them in hot oil. As for the sauce, it's made using only fresh tomatoes. And all you have to do is blend the ingredients and cook them for a while with some water until you have a delicious fresh tomato sauce.
COOKING TIP: If you let the eggplants soak in water for a few minutes before cooking them, they release most of their bitter flavor. Therefore becoming sweeter and tastier when cooked.
Like Eggplants? Check out my recipe for Traditional Greek Smoked Eggplant Dip. It's so yummy!
Fried Eggplants With Spicy Tomato Dipping Sauce (Melitzanes Tiganites)
Ingredients
For The Eggplants:
- 1 large or 2 medium-sized eggplants
- all purpose flour
- salt & pepper
- frying oil
For The Spicy Tomato Sauce:
- ½ small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- chili powder or tobasco
- salt & pepper
Instructions
For The Spicy Tomato Sauce:
- Add the onion, garlic cloves and olive oil in a food processor and blend well until they become a paste. Transfer to a medium-sized cooking pot and heat over high heat.
- Blend the tomatoes as well and set aside.
- Saute the onion and garlic paste for a minute or two, and add the blended tomato.
- Add a bit of water to the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for approximately 30 minutes. Or until the sauce thickens. Stir in the oregano. Add the chili powder or tobasco, to your liking. Remove from heat.
For The Eggplants:
- Cut off the top and bottom of the eggplants. Slice them to ½ cm thick slices.
- Add them in a pot with water and let them sit for at least 15 minutes. This way the release most of their bitternes.
- Transfer the aubergines to a strainer and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat plenty of frying oil in a large skillet.
- Coat the aubergines in flour and fry them for 2-3 minutes on each side. Or until they get a nice golden color.
- Transfer the aubergines on paper towels to rest for a minute before serving.
Thank you very much great food..i love Greece xxx