How to Cook Cheesy Ensaladang Talong (Eggplant Salad)

I am a chef on a luxury world cruise liner. I love to cook and write recipes that are inspired by foods from all over the world.

What Is Ensaladang Talong?

Ensaladang talong, or eggplant salad, is a common Filipino side dish for fried or grilled dishes. It typically consists of eggplant, tomato, onion, vinegar, and shrimp paste. In this recipe, I made my own version of eggplant salad, but I omitted some of the usual ingredients. I also decided to add cheese.

Cook Time

Most of the ingredients for the eggplant salad.

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Ingredients

• 3 eggplants
• 1/2 cup tomato, chopped
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• Cheese, grated, as needed
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

Utensils

For Preparation:

• 2 large bowls
• 3 medium bowls
• knife
• chopping board
• measuring cups
• grater

For Cooking:

• pot
• pan
• tongs

Instructions

1. Prick the eggplants using a fork. Set aside.
2. Pour water into a pot. Allow it to boil.
3. Add the eggplants. Cook until tender.
4. Once the eggplants are tender, turn off the heat. Remove the eggplants from the water. Allow them to cool down a little bit.
5. Slit one side of each eggplant. Lay them out on a pan so they are wide open (skin side down).
6. Mix the chopped onion and tomato in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon this mixture on top of the eggplants. Add grated cheese on top.
7. Cook the cheesy ensaladang talong on the stove until the cheese has melted. Make sure to cover the pan.
8. Serve hot.

Step-by-Step Video

Tips and Techniques

• Finish cooking the dish in the oven until the cheese has completely melted.
• Use an easy-to-melt cheese.
• Remove the eggplant skin, if desired.
• Serve as a main dish or side dish.

More Healthy and Delicious Eggplant Recipes

• How to Cook Poqui Poqui: A Filipino-Inspired Dish
  Do you enjoy eating scrambled eggs? Try this healthy version of poqui poqui, a popular regional dish from the northern part of the Philippines.
• How to Cook Binagoongang Talong With Longaniza
  Do you enjoy eating eggplant or aubergine? Add an Asian twist to your eggplant by cooking it with bagoong alamang or shrimp paste. Try my own simple dish of binagoongang talong with longaniza.

© 2019 Travel Chef

Comments

Travel Chef (author) from Manila on September 27, 2019:

Hello Pamela,

Same here. I really love the taste of cheese in any dish I'm cooking. So for sue this cheesy ensaladang talong is something you will surely like to eat for any meal.

Travel Chef (author) from Manila on September 27, 2019:

Hi Linda,

I am pretty sure that you'll enjoy this eggplant recipe. It's one of my favorite. I hope you try this cheesy ensadalang talong recipe.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on September 23, 2019:

This sounds very flavorful. I'd like to explore the culinary possibilities provided by eggplant. Your recipe sounds like it would be a tasty and enjoyable part of the exploration.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on September 22, 2019:

I think this sounds like a good dish. I like that you added the cheese.