Slice the aubergine lengthways into 1cm slices. Arrange the aubergines over a grill pan. Brush lightly with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill until golden. Flip them over, brush again with oil, season and grill again until tender and golden.
How do you prepare an aubergine?
Rinse off the aubergine under the tap to remove excess salt. Lay out kitchen paper, place aubergine on top in a single layer, then pat dry. You want to dry the aubergine well, as wet aubergine will act like a sponge for oil. Once your aubergine is dry, it is ready to use in your favourite recipe!
Do I need to soak Aubergine?
As modern varieties are much less bitter, that is no longer necessary, unless you’re planning to fry them – aubergines soak up oil like a sponge and salting helps reduce that.
How do you prepare eggplant before cooking?
Start by trimming off the top and bottom of the eggplant, removing the stems and leaves. If desired, peel away the thick skin. Then slice into 1/2-inch to 1-inch rounds. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and generously sprinkle each slice of eggplant with kosher salt.
Can you eat the skin of an aubergine?
Wash the aubergine thoroughly.
If the skin is in good shape, it is edible, though some varieties have skin that is too tough to eat. Peel the skin with a vegetable peeler if you think it’s wise – younger aubergine skin is fine to eat, but older, more ripened aubergine skin has a bitter taste.
How long does aubergine take to cook?
Spread out the aubergine in a roasting tin or on a baking sheet (you may need to use two) and drizzle with the oil. Turn the pieces over with your hands and season. Roast for 15-20 mins, turning the slices halfway through cooking, or until they are dark golden on the outside and soft inside.
Why is aubergine bad for you?
Eggplant contains cholinesterase that blocks anti-inflammatory substances in the body and therefore promotes INFLAMMATION. The amount of these substances may vary but usually small and good often negate the bad, however some patient may be very sensitive to those substances.
Should you soak eggplant in salt water before cooking?
Many recipes call for salting and rinsing eggplant before cooking it to draw out its bitterness. … This technique of soaking sliced or chopped eggplant in salt water is particularly useful when making grilled eggplant. You can brine eggplant for use in any recipe (whether it calls for brining or not) using this method.
How do you get the bitterness out of aubergines?
SALTING: Slice the eggplant, then sprinkle salt (coarse salt is best because less is absorbed) onto one side. Leave it for 30 minutes, to allow the solanine (a chemical found in the flesh) to leach out, and brush off with a damp cloth.
Can you eat raw aubergine?
Eating Eggplant
While it can be eaten raw, eggplant is even most wonderful when it’s grilled, baked, braised or cooked and pureed into a dip.
Do you have to prepare eggplant before cooking?
Preparing Eggplants
Do you have to peel eggplant before you cook it? You don’t.
Do you have to dry eggplant before cooking?
No need to salt first. Most recipes for eggplant insist you salt it before cooking. … If you’re cooking it in some other way — roasting, grilling, steaming — salting has no effect. And when you are salting eggplant for frying, it takes a lot more than just a quick sprinkle and rinse.
Why is my eggplant bitter?
It takes a long, hot growing season until an eggplant reaches its prime. … Putting salt on the eggplant triggers osmosis, which draws out excess moisture and the bitterness along with it. Remove any excess salt by wrapping the eggplant in a kitchen towel and pressing on the slices or cubes, which removes even more water.
Can aubergines be poisonous?
As a member of the nightshade family, aubergine is related to tomatoes and potatoes, and like them its leaves are poisonous.
Can aubergine make you sick?
Allergies to eggplant, or aubergine, are fairly uncommon. Eggplants are a member of the nightshade family of plants, whose members contain substances known as alkaloids. These alkaloids can be highly poisonous to humans but only in some species of the nightshade family.
Can you boil Aubergine?
Place eggplant, garlic, water and salt in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until eggplant cubes are cooked but still firm.