Local farmer donates mountain of eggplant
Photos courtesy of Patrick Old.
Farmers Sam and Donna Old of Craig County have obviously figured out how to grow eggplant. They had a bumper crop this year, and had so much on their hands this week that they donated a massive quantity of the stuff to the Roanoke Rescue Mission.
The Olds estimate the donation at about 2,500 pounds of eggplant. That’s a lot of ratatouille!
I spoke to Joy Sylvester-Johnson at the Rescue Mission, and she said they received the eggplant Wednesday and it was on the menu that night. The cooks planned to batter and fry it for supper that night, but they’re pretty adept at coming up with a variety of delicious uses for donated food.
“They’re really good about thinking on their feet,” she said.
The Rescue Mission regularly gets donations from gleaners, homeowners, farms and grocery stores. Joy said there’s no minimum amount required to make a donation, so even if you have a grocery bag full of squash or tomatoes, they’ll take them. That’s because their kitchen works like a cafeteria, so they can change out the offerings several times if necessary.
Some of the eggplant was likely shared with other homeless shelters in the area. She said the rest would be used in traditional ways, such as eggplant Parmesan or the aforementioned ratatouille. But they have a favorite at the Rescue Mission that involves slicing and broiling eggplant, then topping the slices with pizza sauce and pizza toppings to make miniature eggplant pizzas. That sounds like a tasty way to enjoy the shiny, beautiful veggie, and it might even be healthier. Definitely lower in carbs.
I adore eggplant because my mom used to slice and fry it, and she makes wonderful eggplant Parmesan. I’ve used smaller varieties in Thai food, especially green curry, and it’s wonderful.
Do you like eggplant? If so, what are your favorite eggplant recipes?
August 5, 2011 - 6:59 AM
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Moussaka! I used to work in a restaurant run by Greeks in D.C. and had the very best homemade traditional. the Greek Festival in Roanoke also makes fantastic Moussaka. Anybody know how I can get their recipe?
I’ve found that eggplant works well in vegetarian chili… or sliced thin and layered in lasagna.
I do the basics, like Eggplant Parm and ratatouille, but I also do a wonderful crab-stuffed eggplant, and babaganouj. But my favorite use is a copy of Mama Maria’s Eggplant Sorrentino, which is basically Eggplant Parm with a lasagna-esque layer of ricotta between the layers. I also find that a layer of fried eggplant in a traditional lasagna makes a big difference.
But I never use eggplant that I don’t think of my parents back in the Sixties in backwoods West Virginia. They grew eggplant one year in their garden, and then had no idea what to do with the strange purple things. In an age where a world of recipes is at our very fingertips, that always makes me smile.
Man, you all are making me hungry and it’s not even 10 in the morning!
Jeff, I’d love to know how you do a crab-stuffed eggplant
My eggplants aren’t doing well…I’m so jealous of this. I LOVE eggplant.
We’ve taken slices, brushed them with oil and sprinkled it with vegeta, then grilled it. It was pretty good.
My friends from Rwanda grow “golden eggs”, they are golf ball sized, round eggplants that are quite bitter. The first couple times you eat it during the season they are almost unbearable.. But you get used to it.. They are really good though, they are cooked with beans, tomato paste and bell pepper. Or sometimes greed bananas.
One of our favorites is eggplant pasta.
1 med eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes, about 1 lb.
2 tbl spoons evoo
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 plum or small roma tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup chopped, pitted green olives
4 tsp capers, rinsed
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 (or more) red pepper flakes
12 oz whole wheat (or any) angel hair pasta
1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over med heat. Add eggplant, cook stirring occasionally, until just softened, about 5 min. Add garlic and cook 30 sec to 1 min. Add tomatoes, olives, vinegar, capers, s&p, red pepper. Cook, stirring until tomatoes begin to break down, 5-7 min. Serve over cooked pasta and top with basil and parmesan cheese.
My other favorite, eggplant cassarole, you ran in the RT Mother’s Day paper.
The pasta recipe sounds good, David.
I love eggplant parm and oven fried eggplant. Slice one up, dip the slices in Italian dressing and then in Italian style breadcrumbs. Lay the slices on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray, or on nonstick foil and bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes turning once. You want them browned and crispy.
Google Cook’s Country “Eggplant Parmesan for Two” recipe. OMG…it IS to die for!!!!
Here’s the recipe Raymond is talking about, it sounds good.
http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2010/08/eggplant-parmesan-for-two.html
Thanks for posting the ‘Eggplant Parmesan for Two’ recipe link. I forgot…my bad. I WILL be making it again this week but will add a bed of spagetti underneath it creating a ‘moat’ of sauce around the edge.
While looking at another blog tonight, I found this recipe for eggplant parmesan bites. It calls for white eggplants, but I’m sure you could sub a regular purple one.
http://www.melecotte.com/2011/08/eggplant_parmesan/
The eggplant parmesan recipe looks wonderful! I love Cooks Country/Cooks Illustrated/America’s Test Kitchen. Every recipe of theirs that I have ever made has turned out wonderfully. This past weekend I made CI’s baked manicotti and it was delicious!
Joy Sylvester-Johnson sent this update with all the ways they used the eggplant:
“We ran out of eggplant today. Lunch was the last meal that served it. According to my numbers we served 5,104 total people between breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every morning that Sandra cooked, she served eggplant hash browns. We were able to utilize it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We served it for 21 different meal times. We had 13 different recipes. Please see the list below. Thanks!”
Eggplant baked beans
Ratatouille
Eggplant pizzas
Deep fried eggplant
Eggplant stir fry
Pomodoro
Eggplant French fries
Eggplant hash browns
Cheesy eggplant with Garlic
Ranch seasoned eggplant
Eggplant parmesan
Eggplant casserole
Eggplant spaghetti