How to Cut an Eggplant: 3 Ways to Cut an Eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena), also known as aubergine and brinjal, is a perennial, warm-season veggie from the nightshade family. Eggplant comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. The most common eggplant variety in the US is the globe eggplant: this hefty variety has glossy, deep-purple skin and spongy fruit. Other commonly cultivated varieties include Italian eggplant, white eggplants, Thai eggplants, Black Beauties, Ichiban, Rosa Bianca, and Little Fingers. Eggplant contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, and carbohydrates.

Before you cut your eggplant, wash it in cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. You can leave the skin on the eggplant, or you can peel the eggplant using a vegetable peeler or paring knife. You can then cut the eggplant into halves, slices, or cubes:

1. 1. Halve the eggplant. Place the eggplant on the cutting board. Trim the stem off the top of the eggplant, then cut the eggplant in half, lengthwise.
2. 2. Slice the eggplant. You can slice the eggplant width-wise into rounds. Using a sharp knife, place the eggplant on the cutting board. Trim off the eggplant stem at the top of the eggplant. Then cut the eggplant into round slices. You can cut eggplant into thin slices or thick slices.
3. 3. Cube the eggplant. You can also cut the eggplant into cubes using a chef's or paring knife. Place the eggplant on the cutting board, trim off the eggplant stem at the top of the eggplant, then cut the eggplant in half, lengthwise. Place each eggplant half cut-side down, cut half-inch strips lengthwise, then cut into half-inch cubes widthwise.

After chopping, you can grill, bake, braise, or stir-fry eggplant. Consider the following eggplant recipes depending on shape in which you cut your eggplant:

• Slices: You can bread and fry eggplant slices, then bake the slices into Italian dishes such as eggplant Parmesan or eggplant lasagna. Eggplant slices are also ideal for grilling as a side dishe.
• Cubes: Eggplant cubes can be used to make stews and soups. You can cook them over high heat in a stir-fry or roast the cubes in the oven on a baking sheet.
• Halves: You can roast eggplant halves in the oven or grill them with the skin intact. You can also purée the inside of the roasted eggplant to make soup or mix it with lemon juice and olive oil to make baba ganoush, a delicious Middle Eastern side dish.

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