Fried Russian Eggplant Salad

This eggplant salad is made with eggplant, fresh garden tomatoes, garlic and salt and pepper. The combination of the fried eggplant pieces, tomatoes, and the kick from the garlic make this an awesome salad to serve with grilled meat or anytime you crave a heavier salad.

For meat lovers, add cubed chicken breast meat to the mix. The eggplant salad can be made in advance as the flavors only deepen with time.  If you know of the Russian eggplant appetizers, or zakuski, with eggplant and tomatoes (Here are the ones I mean), this is kind of what it is like, only in salad form.

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Russian Eggplant Salad Recipe

Ingredients

Eggplant – fresh eggplant.

Tomatoes – garden tomatoes are best as they are usually tastier than store bought, but any should work.

Garlic – should be fresh. Gives a great garlicky flavor to the salad

Dressing – sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper

Optional – chicken breast. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and also fry in the pan. Cut into cubes once done and cooled. Add to the rest of the salad.

Oil for frying – I like using olive oil mostly in my cooking, but any kind should work.

Preparing Fried Eggplant

To get started, wash and slice your eggplant. Cut into slices and then into small squares.

Next, heat up a heavy bottomed pot, dutch oven, or even a pan and add 2-3 tablespoons oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cut eggplant into the pot. Fry the eggplant pieces until they become golden brown.

Once eggplant, is done, take it out and put into a bowl or plate with a paper towel to soak up the extra oil. Let the eggplant cool off.

Other Ingredients for Eggplant Salad

In the meantime, cut tomatoes into small squares and place into a small/medium salad bowl.

Mince the garlic and add to the cut tomatoes in the salad bowl.

Once the eggplant is cooled off, add it to the tomatoes and garlic. Then add level tablespoons of mayonnaise and sour cream. (Make sure they are not heaping tablespoons as it might be too much dressing then). Add salt and pepper.

Mix everything together.

Chicken (Optional for Meat Lovers)

If using chicken, sprinkle the chicken breast meat with salt and pepper on both sides and fry in the pan as well. Once the chicken is done and has cooled of, cut it into small squares (about the same size as the tomatoes) and add to the salad. Mix well with the rest of the ingredients.

And there you have it – Fried Russian Eggplant Salad! Serve with a slice of bread or baguette. This is a great salad to have if you grill in the summer as it works well with the meat and can even take place of a side. Just look at all that goodness!

Other Salads to Make

If you’re looking for some additional salads to make, here are some of my favorites

• Creamy Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Refreshing Radish Cucumber Salad
• Conehead Cabbage Salad with Pistachios

Lastly, if you make this Fried Russian Eggplant Salad, make sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating here! I’d love to hear back from you and will do my best to answer and respond to every comment. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe. I’d love to see the photos of the recipes you have made!