Filipino Eggplant Recipe – Eggplant is a reasonably simple vegetable. You can cook it in different ways and pair it with different ingredients. Egg on the other hand is a highly versatile ingredient that goes about with everything. The question is, have you ever had these ingredients together? There is one dish that combines the two. That dish is known as Tortang Talong. Tortang Talong is a Filipino omelet consisting of eggplant, egg, and omelet fillings. Some variations of this dish have meat, vegetables, or both as fillings, but you can enjoy it with simply the eggplant and egg. If you ate interested in trying this combination, this is one recipe to try:
Tortang Talong
Ingredients
- 4 eggplants (small)
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil (divided)
- 1 onion (small and chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (smashed and minced)
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 4 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
Instructions for Preparing the Eggplant
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Poke 5-6 holes around each eggplant using a knife
- Place eggplants directly on the center rack and bake until they are soft to the touch. This should take about 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of the eggplants. (You can also grill the eggplant over medium-high heat until soft.)
- Once the eggplants are cooked, let them cool and carefully peel the skin off the eggplant. Flatten each eggplant with a fork so that it fans out into a wide teardrop shape.
- Flatten each eggplant with a fork until it fans out into a wide teardrop shape.
- Season the eggplants with salt and pepper then set them aside.
Instruction for the Omelette Filling
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- When the oil is heated, add the onions and garlic and saute them for 3-5 minutes or until they are soft and fragrant.
- Add ground pork to the skillet and cook it for about 10 minutes, or until the meat is completely cooked through.
- Make sure to mix the ingredients well then stir in the oyster sauce until the mixture is coated.
- Drain the meat then transfer the mixture to a bowl and set it aside.
Instructions for Making the Omelette
- Beat 1 small egg in a small bowl then in a larger and separate bowl, beat the remaining 3 eggs.
- Add the pork mixture to the larger egg mixture and combine the mixtures.
- Take one eggplant and dip it into the single beaten egg mix until both sides are coated.
- Reuse the pan used to cook the pork and heat 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat.
- Add the egg-soaked eggplant, then spoon 1/4 of the pork/egg mixture over the top.
- Season the omelet with salt and pepper then cook it for 3 minutes on one side, or until the bottom of the eggplant has set.
- Drizzle a bit more egg over the top of the eggplant, then flip over and cook about 1.5 minutes on the other side.
- Repeat the process with the remaining eggplants then serve the omelet with white rice.
Other Notes for a Filipino Eggplant Recipe
Enjoying this eggplant omelet with a pork mixture is one of many ways to enjoy the Filipino dish. You also have the option of a vegetable filling or no filling at all. This dish is usually enjoyed for breakfast and lunch paired with rice. Aside from grilling the eggplant, you can also boil it for a less smoky flavor. Another option for this dish is to remove the stalk and puree the eggplant then add it to the omelet. If you want a vegan option, you can use squash, flour, and tofu as an egg substitute.
Discover more Filipino meal options with our “Filipino Hot Dog Recipe” and “Filipino Tocino Recipe.”
