The Best Eggplant Patties
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Today I want to be obnoxious and snobby.
So I labeled these patties as “the best”.
To be honest, I always think it’s very pretentious to name a recipe “the best” of anything.
Best means “of the most excellent or desirable type or quality”; so who can actually claim that something they’ve made is the best?
Unless you’re Daniel Boulud or Ferran Adrià, then you probably can. Running a bunch of Michelin starred restaurant grants some of sort of authority in that department.
But for the rest of us - commoner cooks - it’s better to take a more understated approach.
Something can be good, amazing, awesome, mouthwatering, but the best? That’s too much.
However, sometimes you make something and you just knock it outta of the park. Just like that.
And there’s no better way to describe what you’ve just made than “the best!”
This situation here is sort of the best eggplant patties I’ve ever had . Like, ever. So here we are with this super pretentious recipe title. Sorry folks.
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Since we have already settle that they’re the best, let’s just get right to it, okay? No need to brag.
Eggplant, onion, garlic, cheese, almond meal and some herbs.
Wait, no eggs?
Nope, no need.
The patties hold together perfectly, trust me.
This means that if you are vegan (or have a vegan friend) you can sub the Dubliner cheese with vegan cheese. And voila’, “The Best Eggplant Patties” become “The Best Vegan Eggplant Patties”.
I know, I’m pretty bratty today.
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These patties are very versatile (not only the best): great as an appetizer with a beer (or a glass of wine) or as a main meal with a good salad. Or, they can be a wonderful vegetarian burger alternative. I’m not sure about grilling them though...
Okay, it’s go time!
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Ingredients
Makes about 8 medium size patties
1 large eggplant (or 2 medium), peeled and diced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small onion (or 2 scallions), thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup / 3.5 oz / 100 gr grated Dubliner cheese (or sharp Cheddar)*
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup / 3.4 oz / 96 gr breadcrumbs (or GF breadcrumbs or almond meal)
*use vegan cheese to make them vegan
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large (preferable non-stick) skillet over medium-high heat, add onion and salt and saute’ for 5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and saute’ for 1 further minute, until fragrant.
Finally add eggplant cubes and saute’ - stirring every now and then - until browned and soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl and puree/mash with an immersion blender (you can also use a food processor or a blender to do this).
Add cheese, parsley, black pepper and stir until well combined.
Add breadcrumbs (or GF breadcrumbs or almond meal) ¼ cup at a time and mix with your hands until it reaches a firm consistency and will hold up as patties (you might need to use more or less almond meal).
Transfer mixture to the refrigerator for 20 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs (or GF breadcrumbs or almond meal) to suck up some of the moisture.
Take the bowl out of the refrigerator and with dampened hands form 8 medium size patties (or 4 larger ones).
Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same skillet you used before over medium-high heat.
When sizzling, add patties (in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until browned.
Serve warm with some marinara sauce on the side.
Nutrition facts
One patty yields 175 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs and 7 grams of protein.
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