OVEN-BAKED EGGPLANTS WITH PESTO
This is the simplest recipe you can think of really and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you already makes it regularly – eggplants with pesto that you bake in the oven, can it be simpler and better than this? And you can go really creative the pesto and make the one you personally prefer because eggplants are like empty canvasses waiting to be painted upon, the better the canvas, the better the painting so choose them with care. Right now you can find baby eggplants or small ones and I like these a lot because there are usually less seeds in them. Not that it matters that much to me if there are seeds but if I manage to buy eggplants without them, I’m happier for some reason, maybe I feel like an expert food buyer or at least knowledgeable in some obscure way.
OVEN-BAKED EGGPLANTS WITH PESTO
eggplants, any size goes
pesto, store bought or home-made
salt
extra-virgin olive oil
- Divide the eggplants in two length-wise and make criss-cross cuts in them with a sharp knife.
- If the pesto isn’t very salt, press down some salt in-between the cuts before you spoon the pesto over the eggplant-halves. Open up the cuts and let the pesto drip down into the cuts so that the eggplant can absorb it as much as possible. Add as much pesto you like and can take and leave a thin layer on top of the halves as well.
- Put the eggplants in an oven-proof form that you have greased slightly with olive oil and bake in a pre-heated oven (200°C/390°F) until they are soft and golden, I can’t give you an exact time as it depends on how big eggplants you use.
Oh, this is so my kind of recipe, simple and flavorful. And I never know what to do with eggplant and this is perfect! Beautiful pictures.
I do bake eggplants, but have never added pesto to it; great idea Ilva, thanks and yes, great pictures.
I’ve never thought of using pesto with eggplant, but this sounds so simple and absolutely delicious!
How very odd to think an eggplant leaped into my basket yesterday but I didn’t have a plan last night … tonight I do now!
excellente idee !! I love eggplants plus the season starts
I’ll do them as soon as I’ll be back from Sweden (Tuesday) Did I tell you I’m visiting Stockholm for a few days ?!
sounds like an excellent and easy way to prepare eggplant!
This looks very appetizing. I’m always appreciative of how you cook vegetables which I don’t exactly love. When cooked your way, I actually love and enjoy them!
Nice idea for eggplants…. Simple and wonderful!
Thanks, Ilva…
So simple and beautiful. I love eggplant. And pesto! Brilliant.
Thanks you all, I’m happy you like it and I hope you’ll like it if you try it!
Lovely way to use up our pesto that’s waiting to be eaten before the new basil season starts.
it’s my new favorite!!!