You’ve probably heard the expression “Southern Fried” many times over the years, right? We take it to heart in our family and my mama is a Southern cook to the bone. And she fries. Lots of things. We all know that fried foods are not the best for the arteries and cholesterol and although mama fries in moderation more now than she used to, during the summer months, we can’t help but fry up those fresh veggies from the garden, like okra, squash and eggplant.
If you’ve never had fried eggplant, oh my word, is it delish! I could eat my weight in fried eggplant, especially the way my mama does it.
Dad has always grown eggplant in his garden and this year was no exception. They are gone now, but I wanted to share this one with you in case you might want to try this Southern delicacy.
Doesn’t that look scrumptious? I can assure you it is. Fried or not, it tastes delectable.
Southern Fried Eggplant
1 or 2 eggplant, peeled and cut in strips (see shape above)
salt the eggplant, letting the water come out of it
Dip in flour
Dip in egg mixed with milk (beat)
Dip in Panko bread crumbs
Add enough oil in appropriate pot to deep fry the eggplant. Mom uses Canola oil.
She uses an old time cooking pan that I will show you a picture of. She has fried in this pot for about 50 years now (and yes, it looks it). It was her mother’s and she got it when her mom passed away in the early 60’s. She lost her mom way too young, at only 59, from heart disease. I don’t think fried foods did it, it was something she was born with.
It’s by Guardian Service and my mom told me that her mother bought an entire set of this probably back in the 50’s when door to door salesmen came around, doing cooking demonstrations with this cookware. She had the whole set and when my grandmother passed away, mom got this one and some of the other siblings got the other pieces. She has used this pot for so long and it was a huge part of my childhood.
Mom cooked up fried potatoes in this pot too and they are/were the best. If you think that fried eggplant sounds good, you should see the fried potatoes that come out of this frying machine.
Lip smacking delicious! Remember that pic I showed a couple weeks ago of mom and dad digging potatoes. Yep, those potatoes get fried up and they are better than good.
Here’s to some fried Southern food. In case there is any argument that fried foods are bad for you, well, they might not be the best, but how can you argue with these 2, who have been eating some fried foods for a long, long time.
I think growing their own veggies must offset the badness of frying, don’t you?
Do you fry anything?
For more information on the good health benefits of eggplant, check out this article.
Sheila says
Oh Girl! When I was a kid in West TN, we had fried taters for supper every night! NEVER any leftovers, either!
Laura C says
Your parents are such wonderful subjects for your blog! I love fried eggplant but I would really like is recipes for the figs that must come off those gorgeous fig trees! Is that possible? LOL!
Pat Smith says
I love fried eggplant , but I cut mine as rounds and use corn meal instead of panko. And I cook almost everything in my nana and moms cast iron frying pans. Mostly sautéed not fried tho!
Karina says
I have a similar pot passed down from my grandmother to my mother and now to me. Besides frying things well, it makes the best popcorn. This eggplant looks delicious!
Ivy says
YUMMY! Nothing like fried okra, fresh creamed corn, sliced ‘maters from the garden, some butter beans and country fried steak…..and finish it off with some ‘nana puddin’. I LOVE living in the South! (this from a girl who grew up in PA ) 🙂
Kathy says
I so love fried potatoes with onions, fried squash, okra, fried ANYTHING! I fry quite a bit, probably way too much. The hubby loves it being from Albany GA. He grew up on fried foods and requests certain foods fried.
I remember washing potatoes like your Mom is doing in the photo. Great memories!
Annette says
Rhoda
The egg plant looks like something I would like. Your Mom has to be the best cook! It’s always good to see your parents. I also would love to see their mountain home. I think when you work as hard as you all do, the fried foods just work off.
I love your blog . It’s like pulling up a chair and enjoying everything. I love the cooking pot too.
Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says
Oh my gosh Rhoda! That looks DELICIOUS!!! Thanks for sharing.
Kelly - Talk of the House says
Love it! I totally agree that growing your own must burn calories that takes away those you take in when you eat all this good stuff. When I fry eggplant I normally cut it into small cubes so that I get MORE of the fried coating..very very bad girl here. I fry lots of veggies, but rarely fry chicken because I make the BIGGEST mess when I do! My fried eggplant recipe is here: http://www.talkofthehouse.com/a-fresh-from-the-garden-summer-meal/
Lisa J. says
I absolutely LOVE fried eggplant, okra, etc. I will have to try it with the Panko crumbs. I try not to fry that often, but those two things along with some chicken are occasional “must haves.” I grew up with a Mom that fried in a cast iron Dutch oven….with Crisco many times. Sadly, my Dad took it when he remarried and I did not ask for it when he passed away. However, I still have a few of my Mom’s stainless steel pots by Revere Wear, Duncan Hines, and New Dimensions by Sear’s. I remember her cooking in those as long as I remember and she’s passed away 22 years ago. Every time I see a beautiful new matching set of cookware for sale, I am tempted to get them, but there is nothing wrong with these and there is something wonderful about cooking in the same pots that she did!
Shari @ Turnstyle Vogue says
I love eggplant and this looks delicious. I don’t fry much – I try to grill or bake everything. The one thing that does hit my cast iron skillet, especially this time of year, is venison. One of my favorites. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
kathy says
I don’t think I’ve tried fried eggplant, but bet I would love it. We always fried the yellow squash growing up and I still make it. My husband has his reservations about the food I grew up with:) He’s from Minnesota, so there you go. I also love fried okra and sweet tea which is about the best meal in the world to me.
k says
My Aunt Terry had that same set of pots. I loved them when I was growing up because she was such a great cook and because of the way they looked. I liked the way the sides looked hand hammered and the shape of the handles. I always thought they looked medieval.
Stephanie says
I was born and raised in Indiana, but my mom is from the south. To my knowledge, there are very few foods that can’t be fried. I remember Mom used to make “wilted lettuce.” I’ve even made it a few times. Fresh leaf lettuce with chopped green onion, then you pour hot bacon grease over it and crumbled bacon. Served with cornbread and milk. Yummy!! My great-grandma lived to be 95. My grandpa is 85. All of his sisters are still alive and the oldest is 90. His mind is still as sharp as a tack.
Annette says
I was introduced to fried eggplant at one of our favorite restaurants, Fox Valley, near Birmingham. I was amazed at how much it tasted like fried green tomatoes! I’m so glad to get your mom’s recipe…I’ll have to try it!
krys72599 says
OMG! I LOVE fried eggplant! The only difference between your recipe and mine is I haven’t added milk to my eggs (but I will now!) and we use Italian herbed breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese added to them, but I want to try the panko… There is nothing better than this – I eat them while I’m cooking them! Last year I had to spend weekends frying the eggplants; we grew so many. This year we grew none and I.MISS.MY.FRIED.EGGPLANT! Surprisingly I found they freeze pretty well – we have one of those machines that freezes them airtight. They were as fresh as when I sealed them up! I’d bake them to dry the outside rather than fry them again, but I have to admit there were many meals where I wanted to eat them so badly I just microwaved those babies!!! YUM!
shirley@Housepitality Designs says
I have never had fried eggplant…It looks so delicious…will have to try this recipe!!..Have a wonderful weekend!
Patricia says
If I can look as beautiful as your Mom and Dad when I am 80 years young – i’m gonna start eating deep fried veggies every day !!
Jeannie-JB says
Oh my Goodness, that pot brings back so many memories for me. My Grandma had one of those and she was a fine fine southern cook. Born and raised and never left the state of Alabama, my Grandmother died at the ripe old age of 92. She fried everything that needed it, just like your Mama.
I’m filing this recipe away and I’m gonna start searching thrift stores for that pot, to do it justice. Love your blog – it always brings joy to my heart.
Lee says
I got back from my weekly market shopping this week and was unloading it into the fridge to find I had one eggplant left from the week before, now I know what to do with it and will be frying it up tonight. I have never had egg plant cooked in this way before, it looks yum. We don’t get “Panko” crumbs in New Zealand but I have something similar probably, just dried breadcrumbs so hoping they will be just as good.
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Your parents look great for their age, I am sure all that gardening and eating home grown produce. May they have a long long life of health and happiness 🙂
Lee