Aubergines like to be kept cool but not cold . The fridge may encourage soft spots to form, so a cool dark cupboard can be a better option. They’re best used as soon as possible after you have bought them – the skin will start to wrinkle as they age.
One question we ran across in our research was “Do aubergines need peeling?”.
One source proposed you need to peel aubergine length ways to create the ideal texture. This way there will be less of a tough skin to try and cook through, resulting in less cooking time ! Once your aubergine is peeled , chop up into 1cm chunks and throw in a roasting tin. Remember to cook beforehand to avoid discolouration.
Always peeling it before cooking . If it’s an extra-large eggplant, the vegetable could be older and the skin tougher, therefore, it’s a smart idea to peel it. But small, young eggplant have thin, tender skins that add great texture to the vegetable when cooked.
One source stated that Some aubergine recipes may require you to peel them , either entirely or in strips. In old cookbooks you will find instructions for salting all aubergines by slicing them into a colander, sprinkling with salt and leaving them to ‘sweat’ for about 30 mins.
Are aubergines eaten raw or cooked?
Small round aubergines used in Thai dishes are quartered and eaten raw with spicy dips, and pea aubergines are added to curries whole. Most aubergines have a soft, spongy flesh when raw, and it’s this raw texture that affects what happens to them when they are cooked .
Do you have to Salt aubergines before cooking?
In old cookbooks you will find instructions for salting all aubergines by slicing them into a colander, sprinkling with salt and leaving them to ‘sweat’ for about 30 mins. This was done to reduce the bitterness, and it’s generally no longer necessary to do this.
Do you peel the skin off an eggplant?
Variations and Suggestions Consider leaving the skin on. Many people prefer the taste and texture of a peeled eggplant to that of an eggplant with its skin left intact, but the skin is edible, so you may not need to peel it off . Peel the eggplant in a striped fashion. Doing this leaves some of the skin on the eggplant.
One article argued that this makes peeling the eggplant much easier, especially of you salt it to bring out moisture and soften the skin. If you were to roast the eggplants peeled you’d get a creamy, loose mess that would also burn right there on the grill. It’s not just roasting that asks for the skins to be kept on.
How to choose the right aubergine?
When buying , choose aubergines that feel heavy and have glossy skins. You can grill, fry, griddle, barbecue and bake aubergines as well as adding them to curries and casseroles.