This easy recipe shows you how to make roasted fairytale eggplant with lemon. These small, tender eggplants caramelize in the oven. If you're looking for a simple way to enjoy baby eggplants, this dish is a great place to start!
Small eggplants have great flavor and can be effortlessly baked in the oven for a unique appetizer or side dish that's ready to serve in just 30 minutes.
Jump to:
- What is Fairytale Eggplant?
- What is Little Eggplant Good For?
- How To Store Fairytale Eggplants
- What You Need
- How To Roast Fairytale Eggplants
- How Long Does it Take To Roast Little Eggplants?
- Serving Suggestions
- What Goes With Roasted Small Eggplant?
- FAQ
- For More Baby Eggplant Recipes
- Roasted Fairytale Eggplant Recipe
What is Fairytale Eggplant?
Fairytale eggplants, also known as graffiti eggplant eggplants (Solanum melongena) are white with violet or purple stripes.
The flesh is non-bitter, and the tender skin is edible with few seeds.
Low in calories and high in fiber, this variety of little eggplants is harvested in the mid to late summer months.
According to Texas Gardener, Thomas Jefferson experimented with the fruit at his garden in Monticello, after bringing back seeds from France.
Known as aubergine in France and the U.K., the name "eggplant" is believed to have originated in the 18th century in Europe. Early varieties of eggplants had small, white, or yellowish fruit that resembled eggs in size and shape.
What is Little Eggplant Good For?
Baby eggplants, also known as mini eggplants or Indian eggplants, are not only delicious but also very versatile. Whether you're grilling, roasting, stuffing, or sautéing them, baby eggplants add a unique twist to any dish.
- This recipe not only makes a great side dish, but the mini eggplants can also be arranged on a platter for an appetizer. I like to serve them with a mixture of sour cream, garlic, dill, and a touch of honey.
- In addition to roasting Fairytale eggplant in the oven, they can be grilled or pureed to make chutney and dips.
- These fairytale eggplants can be used in any recipe where you would typically use larger eggplants. They have a mild taste and don't need to be soaked and salted.
This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, low-carb, and perfect for a keto diet.
How To Store Fairytale Eggplants
Refrigerate promptly: After purchasing, place the eggplants in a perforated plastic bag or a vegetable crisper drawer in the refrigerator. Make sure they are dry before storing. Do not wash the eggplants before storing them.
Use within a few days: Fairytale eggplants are best when fresh. Try to use them within 3 to 5 days of purchase for optimal flavor and texture. If they are very fresh, they should last for over a week.
What You Need
- Baby Fairytale Eggplants
- Olive Oil
- Lemons
- Salt and Pepper
How To Roast Fairytale Eggplants
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with the rack set in the center of the oven.
- Rinse and pat dry the eggplants with paper towels.
- Slice each striped eggplant in half lengthwise, through the stem.
- Arrange the slices on a baking sheet with the cut side up. Place the lemons face down on the sheet pan.
- Brush olive oil over the cut side and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 20-30 minutes or until the eggplant is golden brown and tender, flipping once after 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
TIP: To make golden lemons, place lemon halves face down on the sheet pan alongside the eggplants. Do not flip the lemons when you turn the eggplants.
How Long Does it Take To Roast Little Eggplants?
This batch of eggplants roasted in about 25 minutes. I have other batches that roast in 15 minutes. When you flip them over in the oven, halfway through roasting check the flesh and judge how much more time they need in the oven. They should be golden brown and tender when cooked through.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve Roasted Fairytale Eggplant right out of the oven or chilled.
For this batch, I roasted the eggplant with olive oil, salt, and pepper. I served it with a bowl of sour cream drizzled with honey and garnished the dish with fresh basil leaves. You can also use Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese.
FAQ
Yes! Baby eggplants have thinner skin than the larger ones, so there's no need to peel them. If you're accustomed to salting eggplant, there's no need for that either. The small eggplants are not bitter.
Store small round eggplants in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or leave them on the countertop where they will remain fresh for 3 to 5 days. Once cooked, store the eggplant in an airtight container in the refrigerator for one or two days.
For More Baby Eggplant Recipes
Try Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers, Traditional French Ratatouille, Fried Baby Eggplant, and Baby Eggplant Parmigiana.
Also, you can read my article called How Long to Roast Vegetables at 400°F (200°C), for a comprehensive guide to roasting all kinds of vegetables.
I like to roast cauliflower, broccoli, garlic, eggplant, asparagus, carrots, and many more vegetables. Roasting brings out the natural sugars in these vegetables, and they taste so good.
Roasted Fairytale Eggplant Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Fairytale eggplants (or any variety of small eggplant shaped like an egg)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon, halved crosswise
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with the rack set in the center of the oven.
- Rinse and pat dry the eggplants with paper towels. Slice each striped eggplant in half lengthwise, through the stem.
- Arrange the slices on a baking sheet with the cut side up. Brush olive oil over the cut side and season with salt and pepper. Place the lemons on the baking sheet face down.
- Roast for 20-30 minutes or until the eggplant is golden brown and tender, flipping once after 10 minutes. The lemons do not get flipped.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Roasted Baby Eggplant Poppers
- Traditional French Ratatouille
- Baby Eggplant Parmigiana
- Fried Baby Eggplant with Sour Cream Dip
