Eggplant

Here, roasting the tomatoes first brings out their sweetness. Calamari or baby octopus would work well in place of the prawns.

"The spicy eggplant at Sydney's Good Luck Pinbone is one of my favourites. Would you get the recipe?" - Susan Ridge, Bowral, NSW

"Admittedly, on the surface this dish seems a bit odd," says Achatz. "Cocoa, pumpkin, cardamom, lamb? This is a perfect example, however, of a technique we use frequently at Alinea called 'flavour bouncing'."

Let Damien Pignolet guide you through how to make ratatouille, the Niçoise classic that's a jewel-like mix of end-of-summer vegetables. A gentle touch brings rich rewards.

Served with mountain bread, the smoky eggplant flavour of Blue Nile's Ethiopian eggplant dip is the perfect way to start your evening.

Very ripe tomatoes make all the difference in our okra, eggplant and turmeric stew. Serve with bread or on a grilled fillet of fish.

Steaming eggplant gives it a lovely silky texture and makes a lighter alternative to frying. The dressing can be made with a curry paste for extra spiciness. Begin this recipe a day ahead to soak the chickpeas.