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    Home » Salad Tips & Tools » How to Guides

    How to salt eggplant...

    Filed Under: How to Guides

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    To salt or not to salt eggplant, that is the age-old question with this delicious yet oh so versatile purple beauty - find the answers of if, why and how here!


    EGGPLANT ROUNDS

    Call it eggplant, aubergine or brinjal this versatile vegetable with its satin purple skin and its spongy, creamy-white flesh is perfect for soaking up all the exotic flavours of any dish.

    A famous member of the nightshade family eggplant can be grilled, barbecued, roasted, fried, braised, curried, stewed and is just perfect for salads.

    WHY SHOULD YOU SALT EGGPLANT?

    Bitterness - Originally it was done to remove its bitterness, nowadays the bitterness has been bred out of them so it is no longer necessary to do it for this reason.

    Oil absorption. It was also thought that it would decrease its ability to absorb oil. This is not the case, as the salt draws water from the eggplant weakening its cell structure and making it is easier for it to absorb oil.

    GRILLED EGGPLANT

    THE REAL REASON WHY...

    It helps to draw out the excess water that is inside it, that is why you will see your eggplant 'sweat' and form pools of brown liquid at the bottom of your bowl.

    As the moisture is drawn out the flavour of the eggplant is concentrated and the salt helps season the eggplant right through.

    The real difference is with the texture - salted eggplant is creamier and more luscious, while unsalted eggplant is firmer and meatier.

    HOW TO SALT EGGPLANT

    1. Peel and cut it in whatever size and shape pieces the recipe calls for.
    2. For eggplant cubes or dice place the eggplants in your colander add some coarse sea salt and toss to distribute the salt.
    3. For eggplant rounds or slices place them, one layer at a time, in a colander and sprinkle with some coarse salt.
    4. Allow to sit for at least 60 minutes, you will know when they are ready once you see either liquid beads form on them or you see your eggplant start to sweat. 
    5. Pat dry to remove excess water and salt, then cook according to your recipe
    CUTTING-EGGPLANT-INTO-CUBES-2

    CUT YOUR EGGPLANT

    CUBED-EGGPLANTS-IN-COLANDER

    PLACE IN A COLANDER

    EGGPLANT-CUBES-WITH-SALT

    ADD COARSE SEA SALT

    TOSSING-EGGPLANT-CUBES-WITH-SALT

    TOSS TO DISTRIBUTE SALT

    SALTING EGGPLANT SLICES

    ARRANGE SLICES IN LAYERS AND SALT

    EGGPLANT-SWEATING-

    ALLOW TO SWEAT

    PATTING-EGGPLANT-DRY

    PAT DRY

    Cook your eggplants then transform them into magical salads...

    • SAUTEED-EGGPLANT-SALAD
      SAUTEED-EGGPLANT-SALAD
    • JAPAENESE EGGPLANT SALAD
      JAPANESE-EGGPLANT-SALAD
    • MEDITERRANEAN ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD
      MEDITERRANEAN ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD
    • EGGPLANT SALAD WITH HARISSA
      EGGPLANT SALAD WITH HARISSA
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    About Anastasia

    Anastasia is a home cook introduced to cooking at a young age (8 years old) and hasn’t gotten out of the kitchen since! She had her own coffee shop and ran her own catering business for over a decade. Her love of salads developed as she was always the one responsible for making the salads for family get-togethers and friends functions.

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