Summer-y Eggplant Jerky

This is a delicious, light, summery eggplant jerky.  Balsamic and herbs shines through with each bite.

For those who choose not to eat meat, eggplants, like mushrooms, are a great substitute to make jerky.  From a nutritional standpoint, they are high in fiber and low in calories for the win.

Choosing the Eggplant

Find an eggplant from your local supermarket or farmers market.  Look for smooth, shiny skin and have a uniform color all around the eggplant.

Press your finger into it and if it leaves an imprint, the eggplant is ripe.  They say the smaller the eggplant, the less bitter and more sweeter they are.

Slice the eggplant. Shoot for uniform slices, this will be better for the dehydration process.

I soak the eggplant slices for about 40 minutes in salt water to draw out bitterness.

After 40 minutes, I drain the water by using a colander.

After draining out the saltwater, I give the eggplant slices a quick little rinse.

I lay the eggplant slices on paper towel to allow them to dry.  While it dries, I work on the marinade.

Making the Marinade

Mix ingredients and pour into ziplock bag with eggplant slices.

I can already smell the oregano and notes of balsamic vinegar, deliciousness! Place in refrigerator.

Occasionally, I will flip the bag to marinade the slices evenly.  Marinade anywhere from 4 to 12 hours.

Drying the Eggplant Jerky

After the eggplant slices are done marinating, it’s time to prep them for dehydrator. First I drain the eggplant slices, using a colander.

Then, I place the eggplant slices on paper towel and gently pat off any excess liquid.

The eggplant slices are now ready to be placed onto dehydrator trays. I used my Nesco dehydrator for this recipe.  Make sure the slices are evenly spaced so as not to overcrowd.

I set the temp for 145F and let it dehydrate anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.

Testing for when the Eggplant Jerky is Finished

You can check it at 4 hours and decide if you like the texture as is or more on the crispier side.

I like it a little on the crispier side so I tend to dehydrate longer.

Another delicious eggplant jerky!  Notes of parsley and oregano shine through with an after taste of tangy-ness from the balsamic.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool dry environment.