I spent last night brainstorming recipes for eggplant in my head.

I thought of a healthy eggplant parm, a poached eggplant omelet and a roasted eggplant n’ vegetable medley…

The list went on and on…

And then I thought some more.

When I was growing up, my Pop-Pop taught me how to make eggplant parm and we honestly made it twice a week as soon as I got home from school.  It was amazing and he made the best eggplant parm I’ve ever had. Here we are many years later where I can’t have those glutenous breadcrumbs and still can’t eat dairy, so I decided to get a bit creative and make a simple eggplant dish.  Pop-Pop always served his eggplant parm over slippery pasta to soak up all the creamy goodness. It was one of my favorite childhood meals.

But then I grew up, moved to Manhattan and forgot just how good eggplant is.

I had two pretty n’ purple eggplants in my fridge this week and lots of fun condiments from balsamic to paprika and hummus to fresh basil leftover from my guacamole making adventure, and instantly eggplant fries popped into my head.

What a fun snack to make on a chilly Manhattan day. Quick, simple and can be in the oven in less thatn 5 minutes.  You only need a few ingredients.  Eggplant, check. Sea salt, check. Balsamic vinegar, check. Fresh basil and paprika, check and check.  You probably have these ingredients already hiding in your fridge and pantry so it’s an easy one to whip up.

I realized there aren’t too many unique eggplant recipes out there besides the traditional dishes we’re all familiar with, so I decided to whip up a batch of eggplant fries.

Sound fun, doesn’t it?

They can be dipped into my sweet homemade ketchup (that I’ve been making weekly because it’s SO GOOD), fresh tomato sauce or sprinkled with sea salt.

Cooked tender crisp and tossed with fresh organic herbs, these fries are the perfect snack for your 3 PM slump or for the kiddies as an after school snack.

I’m even thinking about serving them with a fancy pesto sauce and balsamic reduction as a holiday appetizer.

Whichever way you decide to nibble on these lil’ guys, you’re gunna be happy you made ’em.

I promise.

You might like them so much that you make ’em again next week.

Just sayin’…

Eggplant Fries

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

Fries

• 1 large eggplant
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup green tea, brewed and chilled
• Juice of 1 fresh lemon
• 1/3 tsp. sea salt
• 5 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds

Sweet Raisin Ketchup

• 1 large heirloom tomato, diced
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 small shallot, diced
• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 Medjool dates, pitted
• 2 Tbsp. golden raisins
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• pinch sea salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine balsamic, olive oil, green tea, lemon juice, sea salt, basil, paprika and flax seeds; mix well to combine. Set aside.
3. Slice eggplant into 1/3 inch slices.  Dip each eggplant slice into balsamic mixture to coat.  Place eggplant slices onto a baking sheet or roasting pan.  Toss lemon wedges on top.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, make the ketchup by combining all the ketchup ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth and transfer to a small bowl and serve with the fries for a sweet dipping sauce.
5. Remove the fries from oven; set aside to cool for 2 minutes.
6. Serve warm with the sweet ketchup or fresh tomato sauce, pesto or hummus for dipping. Store leftover ketchup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
7. Enjoy.