Fried eggplant facts for kids
Fried eggplant, also known as fried aubergine, is a delicious dish enjoyed in many different countries. It's made by slicing eggplant and cooking it in hot oil until it's crispy and golden. People eat it in many ways, sometimes as a main meal, a side dish, or even a snack!
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Fried Eggplant Around the World
Spain: A Sweet Tapa
In Spanish cuisine, fried eggplant is often served as a tapa. A tapa is a small snack or appetizer that people enjoy with drinks. In the city of Córdoba, a special way to eat it is by drizzling sweet honey over the crispy eggplant. It's a popular and tasty combination!
Turkey: Summer Favorite
Fried eggplant is a very popular dish in Turkish cuisine. It's called Turkish: Patlıcan kızartma or Patlıcan kızartması. It was so common during summer months in Ottoman Istanbul that people even called summer the "fried eggplant months."
Back then, many houses in Istanbul were made of wood. Because so much frying was happening, sometimes it accidentally caused big fires. These fires could destroy whole neighborhoods! Today, fried eggplant is usually eaten with a cool garlic yogurt sauce or a yummy tomato sauce.
Middle East: With Tahini and in Sabich
In Arab and Israeli cuisines, fried eggplant is often served with tahini. Tahini is a creamy sauce made from ground sesame seeds. In Israel, fried eggplant is a key ingredient in a popular sandwich called sabich. This tasty sandwich is made with fried eggplant and a hard-boiled egg, all tucked inside a warm pita bread.
South Asia: Crispy Slices
In India, fried eggplant has different names depending on the region. In the Konkani language, it's called brinjal phodi or vangyache kaap. This dish uses shallow-fried eggplant slices. It's a common recipe in the Konkan and Maharashtra regions. It's quite similar to begun bhaja, a popular fried eggplant dish from Bengali cuisine.
See also
In Spanish: Berenjena frita para niños
