Everyday Eggplant is a simple, quick, fresh, and light version of the dish Eggplant Parmigiana and is perfect for a meatless main.

I have always dreamed of taking a cooking class in France. So when a milestone birthday came along, my husband took me to Paris. That was when I first met Susan Herrmann Loomis.

I enrolled in her Market Cooking Class. We began the class by learning to shop at the local farmer’s market for the best produce of the season. Once in the kitchen, we got our “hands in the dough” transforming all the goodies into a fabulous, fresh, French meal.

Shopping at Marché Raspail & plating Duck Breast a l’Orange with Braised Asparagus.

I was in heaven. You can read about my adventure here. When Susan mentioned she was teaching French cooking classes in the Black Hills of South Dakota in a few months, I jumped at the opportunity. It was fabulous as we learned and lived food for four days.

A few months later I found myself at Susan’s 12th-century renovated convent in Louviers, France. The building is directly across the street from the flamboyant French gothic church of Notre Dame. The town is charming, beyond expectation and imagination.

While in Louviers we chatted with farmers at local markets and learned what defines good produce. Susan and I laughed, talked, cooked, and cooked some more. She taught me so much about the French way of life in and out of the kitchen.

She confirmed everything I wanted French cooking to be.
Fresh. Fabulous. Fuss-free. (with good looking farmers being a bonus)

When I purchased Susan Herrmann Loomis’ latest book In a French Kitchen: Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking in France I devoured it like it was a finely prepared meal, savoring each chapter. It reads like an endearing memoir, yet contains 85 recipes with plenty of unique French techniques.

I was amused and fascinated by her culinary commrads, making me feel as if I would be among friends in their kitchens. Below are a few of Susan’s featured friends.

From left: Nadine, Betty, Louis, Edith, Susan, Nathalie, Lena.

I was suprised by how different each home chef approached his/her work in the kitchen. All emphasized simple, seasonal and, no matter how busy the cook or the eater, pleasurably relaxed. So wonderfully French!

One of my favorite stories from Susan’s book is about what she did with 60+ pounds of beef cheeks, which you learn about in Chapter 4. I just happened to be one of the lucky recipients of that escapade when I was in Louviers.

Susan taught me how to make beef cheeks with with braised carrots and a squash puree. Pure bliss. Recipe on pg. 77.

Susan describes food and France in way that makes you starved for more…

“After a French breakfast, once everyone has gone on their way, the lingering peace remains. I love walking into a French home at that moment. There is the scent of tasted bread, the underlying aroma of butter and the tempting perfume of coffee. Bowls–which are, somehow, always pretty, rarely color coordinated, filled with personality as each belongs solely to its owner–are right where they were left, there is that messy scatter of crumbs on the table. The tableau speaks of warmth, comfort and togetherness.”

Excerpt from In a French Kitchen pg. 148 – Painting below is my interpretation inspired by Susan’s kitchen.

In a French Kitchen Book Event

Susan was recently in Los Angeles on a book tour and stopped by Melissa’s Produce to talk to a packed house of media, food bloggers, old friends and plenty of new ones.

Susan, seen here demonstrating the art of eating the French Breakfast Radish with leaves in tack, on top of a slice of baguette slathered in butter, topped with Fleur de Sel — so simple and yet extraordinary.
Tip: Don’t throw away radish greens, add them to your salad.

We also had a delightful array of dishes from In A French Kitchen.

Melon Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette Pg. 93, Garden Salad with Classic Vinaigrette pg. 96, Braised Broccoli pg. 76 & Sweet Pie Pastry with Berries and Creme pg.208

Susan talking about Mushrooms with Chorizo – recipe pg. 290

Another favorite recipe from Susan’s book is an untraditional version of Matafan, with baking it instead of frying. This results in a light and savory bread/cake, which is perfect for supper.

Hunger Beater (Matafan) Recipe on pg. 17

Today’s Recipe: Everyday Eggplant

Everyday Eggplant (Aubergine Pour Tous Les Jours) is a perfect example of simplified French cooking. This recipe is an easier and lighter version of Eggplant Parmesan.

Baptiste Bourdon, one of Susan’s favorite market gardeners, whose produce always makes every dish shine, inspired this recipe.

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Everyday Eggplant

This is a simple, quick, fresh, and light version of a dish Eggplant Parmigiana. Perfect for a meatless main.

Course Meatless Main

Cuisine French

Author Susan Herrmann Loomis

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup 6oml extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds 750g eggplant, rinsed, stem end removed
• Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 medium 5-ounce; 150g onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic green germ removed, minced
• 2 pounds 1kg very ripe tomatoes, preferably an heirloom variety like coeur de boeuf, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
• 1 fresh bay leaf from the Laurus nobilis or dried imported bay leaf
• 1/2 cup 5g fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup 5g fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1 ounce 3og Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated (scant 1/2 cup)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) and position a rack in the center. Brush a heavy baking sheet with about 2 teaspoons of the oil.
2. Cut the eggplant into 1/2-inch (1.4cm) rounds and set them on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the rounds with more oil and season them with salt and pepper. Bake until the eggplant is softened and golden on the side touching the pan, 12 to 15 minutes. Flip the slices, brush them lightly with oil, season with salt and pepper, and continue baking until they are tender all the way through, 5 to 8 minutes more. Remove from the oven.
3. While the eggplant is baking, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the onions and when they start sizzling, reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are nearly translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until it starts to turn translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the bay leaf, stir, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring regularly so the tomatoes don't stick, until the tomatoes are softened and beginning to form a sauce, about 20 minutes.
4. Coarsely chop the herbs.
5. Place the remaining oil in a heavy, 1 1/2-quart (1.5L) baking dish. Place one layer of eggplant on the bottom. Sprinkle with one-third of the chopped herbs, and pour over one-third of the tomato sauce. Repeat, and then sprinkle half the cheese on the tomato sauce. Top with the remaining slices of eggplant, basil, and tomato sauce, and the remaining cheese. Cover and bake until the dish is hot throughout and the eggplant and tomato sauce have married, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Serves 3-4

Quote of the Day:

“Cooking like the French, in a French kitchen, is the shortest route to happiness, warmth, pleasure and delicious times.” –Susan Herrmann Loomis

I think cooking like the French in any kitchen gives that! Bon Appétit.
…and then, she paused for thought.