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.
How do you cook eggplant without getting soggy?
Sweat the eggplant.
With the air pockets full of moisture, there’s not as much room for the oil to soak in. Sprinkle salt over the sliced eggplant, let it sweat for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse and pat dry before cooking.
Do you peel eggplant before cooking?
Do you have to peel eggplant before you cook it? You don’t. The skin is entirely edible, though with larger eggplants it can be a little tough. If your eggplant is young, tender, and on the small side, the nutrient-rich skin can probably be left on for skillet frying or braising.
Do you need to salt eggplant before making eggplant parmesan?
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.