Simple Grilled Italian Eggplant Antipasto Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to prepare eggplant? ›

Cook as desired. Eggplants can be grilled, steamed, braised, stir-fried, deep-fried and roasted. For a smoky flavour, turn whole eggplants over an open flame on the barbecue or stovetop until the skin is charred, then scoop out the flesh. Choose eggplants with smooth and shiny skin that is even across the surface.

Peel the skin slowly starting from the stem end (the top). When you pinch up the skin to start peeling, be sure not to pinch up any of the flesh underneath! This is very important!! Even if the skin breaks as you peel it because you're peeling it so thinly, be sure to only pinch up the skin, not the eggplant flesh!

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. All you need is salt, water, and a large bowl.

Furthermore, adding a good amount of salt will help tenderize the eggplant and keep its shape. Let the eggplant sit: Place the seasoned eggplant over a colander for 30 minutes to an hour. Once beads of moisture start to appear, rinse your eggplant slices under cold water and remove excess salt.

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

So now, in addition to my meds, if my pressure goes up, I eat a little eggplant. That works every time! A: Japanese researchers noted that eggplant is rich in acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter with an effect on blood pressure.

The white part of an eggplant, also known as the "flesh," can sometimes turn bitter when cooked due to the presence of a naturally occurring compound called solanine. Solanine is a glycoalkaloid that is found in many members of the nightshade family of plants, which includes eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.

Brush one side with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place the slices with the oiled side on the grill. Close the lid if using a gas or electric grill and cook until grill marks appear; about 5 minutes. Brush the top sides of the slices with oil and sprinkle them with salt.

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it.

How long does grilled eggplant last in the fridge? ›

Eggplant will last between five and seven days in the refrigerator as long as the skin hasn't been removed or damaged. Cooked eggplant will last between three and five days in the refrigerator.

Cut off the stem and nearby areas before cooking. The stem and area near the stem tend to be where bitter compounds collect. Slice or chop the eggplant and sprinkle the pieces with salt. Allow them to sit for about 30 minutes, then pat dry before cooking.

Answer. Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.

You'll need 30 minutes at the minimum, but you can leave them up to an hour and a half. Watch for moisture beading up on the eggplant, which is what you want. Rinse the salt off. Run the eggplant under water for a minute or two, making sure you get most of the salt off.

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

An hour is best. If you do it the Italian way, cover with a plate upside down and place a weight on it. According to our experience, it accelerates the draining process.

Lay the rounds out on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and sprinkle both sides with the salt. Let the rounds sit for 1 hour.