I looked at the recipes here and here. I liked the idea of breadcrumbs in the first one, plus I still had some from leftover garlic bread I crushed a while back. From the second one, I liked the addition of cheese and a herb. So I put the two ideas together and made up my own recipe.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-1](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-1.jpg)
Eggplant, also known as aubergine! They have such lovely colours. I had 3 of them but for this dish I used 1½. They were big, I didn’t want to cook them all in case I messed up!
Additional ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Breadcrumbs
5 tomatoes, sliced
Parmesan cheese, grated
Handfull of fresh basil
Olive oil
Salt
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-2](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-2.jpg)
Slice the eggplant across into discs, remove the skin, rinse through some water and lay them on a plate or tray. Sprinkle a little bit of salt on both sides.
My mother told me that they can be bitter. Letting them sit for a while with that sprinkle of salt helps to remove/neutralise the bitterness. But if you like the bitterness then you can skip this (some people do!).
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-4](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-4.jpg)
In the mean time you can prepare the other stuff. I had placed water on the stove for cooking the rice, it was now boiling so I added salt, cooking oil and the rice.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-3](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-3.jpg)
We will coat the eggplant with breadcrumbs first, fry it a little, then layer it with the tomatoes cheese and basil, then bake it!
So prepare the assembly line!
First, beat the egg with the milk and place some in a small bowl for dipping. Next to it place another small bowl with the breadcrumbs.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-5](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-5.jpg)
Next is the frying pan with some oil.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-6](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-6.jpg)
Then the sliced tomatoes and grated cheese
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-7](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-7.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-8](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-8.jpg)
The oven dish for baking, coated with cooking oil
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-9](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-9.jpg)
and fresh basil, washed and ready.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-10](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-10.jpg)
Coat the baking dish with oil evenly, on the bottom and on the sides. Then put down a layer of the sliced tomatoes, covering as much was possible.
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-11](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-11.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-12](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-12.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-13](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-13.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-14](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-14.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-15](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-15.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-16](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-16.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-17](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-17.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-18](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-18.jpg)
While the eggplant is baking you can finish up the rice. It should be cooked already. Take it off the fire. This will be a very simple fried rice. I’m not even sure it’s really fried rice, but I know it’s tasty (^_^)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-19](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-19.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-20](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-20.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-22](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-22.jpg)
How much onions and cardamon you use depends on how much rice you cooked, and how strong you want the flavour. I used 2 onions and 1/3 cup of rice
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-23](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-23.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-24](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-24.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-21](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-21.jpg)
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-25](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-25.jpg)
Husband Rating:
very nice colours, appetizing, or maybe I was just hungry
the eggplant was good
![20120120-eggplant-and-rice-26](https://pendolamama.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120120-eggplant-and-rice-26.jpg)
your posts and recipes are just amazing. i have tried some of them and i guess am already a good cook. cant wait to prepare the eggplant…thank you!
Thanks Joy!
And thank you for trying them too! (^_^)