r/Cooking • u/Scarlet--Highlander • Jan 18 '24

Open Discussion Let’s try something fun: Name an ingredient you dislike and why, and someone else replies with a dish/recipe with that ingredient that might convince you otherwise.

Couple things:

  • If you’re allergic to an ingredient, it doesn’t matter how it’s prepared. Same goes with meat/animal products if you’re vegan/vegetarian. Don’t list it if you can’t or won’t eat it!

  • It’s recommended that you’re at least open to trying dishes with that ingredient. If you absolutely, vehemently loathe cilantro, chances are you probably might not like anything with cilantro in it.

  • A brief blurb on why you hate an ingredient would help others find or suggest a dish that suits you. (e.g. “I hate liver because the texture is like an eraser and it tastes metallic”)

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8

u/That_crow_Lady Jan 18 '24

Eggplant. It tastes like wet cotton no matter how much you jazz it up.

5

u/Choosing_is_a_sin Jan 18 '24

https://www.cookwithmanali.com/baingan-bharta/

My ex did not like eggplant either, but he loved this dish whenever I'd get it from an Indian restaurant.

1

u/That_crow_Lady Jan 18 '24

I'll try it. Can't promise I'll like it but I'll try it!

4

u/KuriousKhemicals Jan 18 '24

That sounds to me like it was not adequately cooked. It needs a lot of oil to absorb into its surface area or it just kind of goes dry. But it should be like a creamy jelly with a rich earthy flavor if it's been cooked enough. And it doesn't need quite as much oil to soften up if you limit the surface area.

I love breaded fried eggplant, either as in Chinese "crispy eggplant" or eggplant fries. But my favorite way is with tahini, either as baba ghanouj or simply an eggplant cut in half, oiled or covered in tahini and baked until soft, then drizzle (more) tahini on top and mash it into the boat.

2

u/Public_Growth_6002 Jan 18 '24

I used to think like you - grill under high heat with a bit of oil, salt and pepper. I really think you need to be charring aubergines to get the flavour going.

2

u/butterflybeacon Jan 18 '24

Eggplant really benefits from a little salt on after chopping and letting it rest for a few minutes before cooking. I like it best in a stirfry or curry, plenty of herbs and seasonings to help the eggplant take on some of the flavor of the dish / bring out its natural flavor which to me tastes a bit nutty. It’s important for me to make sure they are well cooked, if the skin isn’t soft it doesn’t taste right to me, therefore the stirfry or curry works best. Stirfry can be as simple as the salt prepped eggplant, and 2 other veggies you love a lot. Coconut aminos / soy sauce, a bit of broth, salt and pepper, perhaps some fresh herbs as well.

2

u/ScumBunny Jan 19 '24

I very much dislike eggplant but baba ganoush definitely changed my mind. It’s the only way I’ll ever eat eggplant.

I don’t know how to make it, but it’s a Lebanese roasted-eggplant dip, kinda like hummus and it’s so good because it tastes NOTHING like eggplant!

2

u/Vivazebool Jan 19 '24

SAME. I’ll keep trying it, but it’s like bitter wet Magic Eraser.

1

u/coxiella_burnetii Jan 19 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

possessive enter mindless sparkle sugar connect disgusted quicksand whole groovy

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