Sautéed Eggplant with Honey
Sautéed Eggplant with Honey and Thyme – This melt-in-your-mouth tender and savory-sweet recipe is sure-fire way to create eggplant converts.
Our Past Nemesis – Sautéed Eggplant
We all have a certain food that is our life-long nemesis.
Well, I used to dislike eggplant. Although the color and shape was appealing, the texture reminded me of makeup sponges, something I wasn’t keen on eating.
Fried Eggplant is a dish people tend to have strong opinions about. Today I’ll show you how to cook eggplant in a way everyone will enjoy.
The Secret Restaurants Don’t Tell You
In the past, no matter how I (or anyone else) prepared it, eggplant always seemed to make my nose wrinkle in disapproval.
Then I learned a restaurant secret that changed everything… Apply milk to makeup sponges, I mean, eggplant.
To magically remove the bitterness from the eggplant and greatly improve the texture, soak the eggplant in milk overnight. Once the slices of eggplant have taken a long, luxurious, milky bath, they are tenderized and primed for frying.
Simply tap off the extra moisture, dust the eggplant slices with sea salt and flour. Then pan-fry them in a large cast iron skillet until golden brown. Then serve piping hot.
Sautéed Eggplant Recipe Ingredients
- Large Eggplant
- Whole Milk
- All-Purpose Flour
- Olive Oil
- Honey
- Fresh Thyme Leaves
- Sea Salt
How to Fry Eggplant
- Start off the night before cooking the eggplant by peeling the skin from the eggplant and slicing it into circular pieces. Place the slices in an airtight container. Pour in just enough milk to cover the eggplant pieces and then put it in the refrigerator overnight.
- On day two: In a shallow dish, mix together the flour and salt. Heat some oil in a large skillet for pan-frying. Make sure to have a large plate lined with paper towels near the stove, to absorb the excess oil.
- When the oil is ready, dip the eggplant pieces into the flour and cover generously. Make sure to tap off the extra flour before placing in the hot oil. Let them cook for about 2 minutes per side then set on the paper towel-lined plate to cool off and drain. Then sprinkle the eggplant with sea salt.
- Finish cooking all the eggplant and add oil to the skillet as needed.
- Serve warm with a honey drizzle and some thyme.
This my friends… Is how to cook eggplant.
This is how to get the reluctant eggplant-eater on board. Tender layers of fried eggplant, with the uncanny custard-like texture of good French Toast.
It is crispy on the outside, moist and supple on the inside. Drizzled with honey and sprinkled with fresh thyme and sea salt. This sautéed eggplant is one irresistible veggie.
Sautéed Eggplant with Honey and Thyme will make a believer of you, guaranteed!
Get The Full (Printable) Recipe Below For How To Make Sauteed Eggplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you salt eggplant before frying?
Yes, whether you put the salt in the flour mixture or just sprinkle it before placing it in the oil, the salt really helps the flavor of the eggplant develop as it cooks. Also, add a little salt at the end of the frying process to further enhance the flavor. Holding off on some of the salt, until the end, will help keep the eggplant from getting mushy or soggy.
Do you have to peel the eggplant before frying?
No. Eggplant skin is definitely edible. Yet because the texture of this dish is so soft and luxurious, I prefer it without the skin.
Could you use almond flour instead of wheat flour?
I have tried it with almond flour and it works, but not nearly as well. A better suggestion might be coconut flour or gluten-free baking mix.
More Summer Veggies:
- Sautéed Yellow Squash with Blistered Tomatoes Recipe
- Fennel Salad with Roasted Beets and Shaved Asparagus Recipe
- Fattoush Salad with Grilled Vegetables Recipe
- Crispy Parmesan Asparagus Sticks ~ How Sweet It Is
- Grilled Corn ~ Michael Ruhlman
- Roasted Tomato Soup ~ Smitten Kitchen
Sautéed Eggplant with Honey
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3-5 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Peel the eggplant and slice it into thin 1/8-inch rounds. Place the eggplant slices in an airtight container and pour the milk over it. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In a small pie pan, mix the flour with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Line a plate with paper towels.
- When the oil is hot, dredge a few slices of eggplant in the flour and tap off the excess. Gently place them in the skillet and pan fry for 2 minutes per side. Remove and place on the plate to drain.
- Repeat with the rest of the eggplant, adding oil to the skillet as needed. Sprinkle the slices with a little more sea salt as they come out of the skillet. Serve warm, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with thyme.
So I’ve never been a huge fan of eggplant, but these sound delicious and I’d definitely try them! I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution). I hope you have no objections and thanks for sharing such amazing creations…
I have an eggplant on hand and I wasn’t sure how I was going to prepare it. I’m now off to slice and soak it in some milk – thank you!!
WHOAA! This looks amazing Sommer. Nicely done!
Looks great. Is it some enzyme or protein in the milk that helps so much? or the act of soaking? The reason I ask is that I wondered what a vegan could use in place of milk. Thanks!
I love your photos! This look so good!
You sold me. I can’t wait to try this. I hope it works with almond milk too!
Absolutely delicious! I tried this today and I love it. Thank you for this wonderful receipe! Although my pics didn’t reach the same level as yours, I published them on my Food Blog.
I’ve never heard of cooking eggplant this way! I’m going to try it this week!
I always want to like eggplant but it always lets me down. I just don’t enjoy the taste at all. I have tried it many ways, at home and in restaurants. I’ll give yours a try, if nothing else, Alexis will like it, she loves eggplant. Great pictures!
i thought i was the only one who liked eggplant with honey ! my eggplant is fresh from the garden / i favor the small white ones / they dont need a milk bath / i like to use the 3 dish prep : flour, egg, panko / fry until crisp in canola oil / drain on paper towels / drizzle with honey / divine!
btw i cut the eggplant on the diagonal so they are ovals
I looove eggplants!!… and will make this today cause I have two beautiful eggplants just waiting to be consumed!!
Spaniards make this dish all the time using molasses (what they call sugarcane honey) instead of flower honey. My mother-in-law was the one to show me how to soak the eggplant in milk and I haven’t done it any other way since!
gorgeous really- loved the tip with the milk; thanks for sharing ! bookmarking it
Mmm, I love eggplant, and I love finding new ways to prepare it. I can’t wait to try out the milk trick! I know what we’re having for dinner tomorrow :)
I JUST had dinner and now I’m craving this. Shame I don’t have any eggplant around, otherwise I’d actually do it right now :-)
I will have to try this now!!! I always thought I didn’t care for eggplant, but now I want to eat this!!! :D
Thanks for the post!! Sounds yummy!! I loved your comparison to makeup sponges….hahahah….they really do remind you of those!! lol
I can’t believe I’ve never made eggplant before! I seriously can’t wait to give this a try!
I want this for dinner TONIGHT! I love eggplant, and the honey + thyme are so perfect!