Once upon a time, there were hamburgers. Then came the fish burgers. Then bean burgers and veggie burgers. And speaking of veggie burgers, have you tried the eggplant burger?
It’s definitely our favorite because the eggplant is such a meaty vegetable with so much flavor. It’s the perfect idea for vegetarians or anyone looking for an alternative from the usual meat-based burger.
Eggplant burger ingredients
To make about 6 eggplant burgers, you’ll need: one large eggplant, one egg, grated parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, stale bread (or breadcrumbs), milk, oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs (i.e. basil or parsley).
Start by cooking the eggplant
The first step is cooking the eggplant. Wash it, dry it, and remove the ends. Dice into cubes and sauté in a pan with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a clove of garlic for about 15 minutes. Once cooked, let the eggplant cool.
The burger mix
Next, moisten the bread in some milk. Add the egg, some breadcrumbs, some parmesan cheese, and chopped herbs to the cooked eggplant. Salt, pepper and knead the ingredients combined. The “dough” should be firm, compact, and not sticky. If not, add more breadcrumbs.
Assemble the burgers
Divide the dough into six balls and then flatten them to make the burger patties. (Use a pastry cutter if desired.) Cook the burgers in a pan with a drizzle of oil until golden-brown on both sides. Or you can bake them at 355°F (180°C) for 20 minutes.
Serving eggplant burgers
Serve the eggplant burgers with fresh lettuce or spinach salad. Or with diced pan-fried veggies. Or serve them sandwich-style with stringy cheese like mozzarella or scamorza cheese. Guacamole pairs very well with the eggplant burgers, as well.