Spicy Roasted Eggplant

If you are thinking that you don't love eggplant, then this is the recipe to change your mind. There are many vegetables that I've taken for granted. I always add too much to cover up the fact that it is a veggie and supposed to be good for me. We make a lot of excuses for not liking certain things and spend loads of money adding more to the real product. Vegetables are grand straight from the source and cooked simply to taste. I want you to join me in welcoming your next side dish to your table, Spicy Roasted Eggplant! 

 

 

 

Ingredients*

1 medium sized eggplant

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of pepper

1 tablespoon of chili powder

1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon of smoked paprika

*These amounts will change based on the size of your eggplant. If you have an aversion to spice go easy on the cayenne. 

Directions

1. Slice the eggplant into thin circles (thickness varies cooking). Place slices in one layer and sprinkle generously with salt. Let the slices sit for 30 minutes to pull out some of the water from the eggplant, then dab them with a paper towel to remove the excess liquid. 

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place the slices on a foil-lined baking pan. Drizzle olive oil over all slices then season both sides with salt, black pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika. 

3. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Flip slices half way through cooking to get an even bake. 

4. Plate and Eat!

 

Tips and Combinations

It is very easy to pass on the veggies for its more appealing cousins the fruits, meats, dairies, etc. but I have discovered the real issue. We just hate to be reminded that something is healthy for us. I have trained myself to question why ingredients appear in certain products. I don't know why more people don't do the same. The best way to know what is in your food is to learn how to properly cook it. I am not saying we all need to be master chefs, but we can certainly cook our favorites to save us the time of worrying about ingredients we can't pronounce. 

Here is a little tip for incorporating more veggies and fruits into your life: Start small and evolve. What that means is start with a veggie that you like and are familiar with cooking, then try to cook it in a new way. I feel like roasting any veggie is such a brilliant way to bring out its natural flavors. Throw them in the pan with your favorite protein and you have a stir fry. Let me know what you love to cook and don't miss an opportunity to try this eggplant. Later kids...

Cook.Discuss.Reflect

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