Cajun Fried Eggplant Recipes

RAGIN' CAJUN EGGPLANT AND SHRIMP SKILLET

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain., Preheat oven to 350°. In an ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add celery, onion and green pepper; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; stir in tomatoes and eggplant. Saute 5 minutes. Stir in seasonings. Add shrimp and bread crumbs; saute 5 minutes longer, stirring well., Bake 30 minutes. Remove skillet from oven; top with cheese. Bake 5 minutes more.

FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel 2 small eggplants and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Put 1 cup flour in a shallow bowl, beat 4 eggs in another bowl and put 1 cup breadcrumbs in another. Coat the eggplant in flour, then egg (let any excess drip off), then breadcrumbs. Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side (add more oil if necessary). Drain on a rack and sprinkle with salt.

EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat about 1/8-inch of olive oil in a very large frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant and cook, turning once, until they are evenly browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Be careful, it splatters! Transfer the cooked eggplant slices to paper towels to drain. Add more oil, heat, and add more eggplant until all the slices are cooked.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, half-and-half, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• In each of 2 individual gratin dishes, place a layer of eggplant slices, then sprinkle with Parmesan, salt and pepper and spoon 1/2 of the marinara sauce. Next, add a second layer of eggplant, more salt and pepper, half the ricotta mixture, and finally 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan on top.
• Place the gratins on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the custard sets and the top is browned. Serve warm.

CAJUN FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• 1. Slice the egg plant. Make sure each slice is about at least 1 inch thick.
• 2. Add 2 tabelspoons of oil into a pan and sautee until the eggplant slices are lightly brown.
• 3. In one bowl crack 2-3 eggs and mix until the yolks are blended. In a seperate bowl, fill it with panko bread crumbs and sprinkle in cajun seasoning (how much cajun seasoning you add is up to you and how much spice you can handle).
• 4. Take one egglplant slice and submerge it in the eggs yolks until both sides are covered, then take the slice and put it in the panko/cajun bowl. Press each side of the yolk covered eggplant with a fork until both sides are sufficiently covered in bread crumbs.
• 5. In a pan (2-3 inches deep) and fill with cooking oil until the entire surface of the pan is covered in oil. Turn stove on to medium-high heat.
• 6. Place breaded eggplant slices in the pan and fry both sides until brown. Serve warm (tartar sauce goes really good with this dish, use it as a dipping sauce)

SPICY CAJUN DEEP FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, the cornmeal, and the spices. Whisk to combine. In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs, the milk, and the hot sauce.
• Dip the eggplant slices first into the cornmeal mixture, then into the egg mixture, then back into the cornmeal mixture. Place on a metal baking sheet.
• Heat the oven to 200°F Place an empty baking sheet in the oven.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy (cast iron is best) skillet, heat 2 - 3 inches of vegetable oil over medium high heat to 350°F If the oil begins to smoke, remove the skillet from the heat until it cools down slightly.
• With tongs, carefully drop 3 - 5 of the coated eggplant slices into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd or the eggplant will simmer and not crisp up. Cook the eggplant until golden, then carefully turn over, about 2 minutes on each side.
• Drain briefly on paper towels. To keep warm until serving, place the fried eggplant slice in a single layer on the baking sheet in the oven.
• Allow the oil to return to 350°F before frying up the next batch.

FRIED EGGPLANT GALATOIRE'S

Steps:

• In a bowl toss eggplant with salt. Cover eggplant directly with a plate and weight with a 1-pound can. Let eggplant stand 1 hour, or until it gives off most of its liquid. Rinse eggplant and drain well. Pat eggplant very dry with paper towels and in a bowl dredge in flour, shaking off excess.
• In a 4- to 5-quart heavy saucepan heat 1 inch oil to 375°F. on a deep-fat thermometer and fry eggplant in 3 or 4 batches, stirring gently, until golden brown. Transfer eggplant with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Serve eggplant hot with sugar for dipping.

CAJUN FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• 1. Slice eggplant into the size of steak fries. Soak 30 min in salted water. Drain, rinse, pat dry w/ paper towels. In bowl, mix egg w/ milk. In another shallow bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper and cajun seasoning. Heat some oil in skillet over med-high heat. Dip eggplant slices into egg mix, then roll in flour mix to coat. Deep-fry eggplant, turning once until golden brown.