Here are tips for choosing, preparing, and cooking this versatile veggie. Choosing Eggplants. You can find fresh eggplants in the grocery store year round, but theyre at their peak in late summer. The most common variety is the large, dark purple globe eggplant. Look for smooth, shiny skins with fresh looking stems and no blemishes. The fruit itself eggplant is actually a berry should feel weighty in your hand. How to Slice the vegetables. For the microwave Place veggies in a microwavesafe dish with a tightfitting lid. Add 14 cup water, cover and cook on high for 35. For a Memorial Day side dish, nothings easier than produce. All you do Prep veggies as directed, brush lightly with oil and sprinkle with salt. Arrange in a single. Know how long it takes to grill pork chops Depending on the type and thickness of the chops you have, it can take between eight and 30 minutes. Entrees served w 3 sides trio asian slaw, steamed rice white or brown, mac or steamed veggies 1 Want your fish without all the sauce Need help in the kitchen eHow offers quick and easy recipe ideas and cooking techniques for everyday meals as well as holidays and other celebrations. Grilling delicious baked potatoes Cooking times, grilling tips, seasoning ideas, yummy toppings, and more. Everything you need to know about how to grill baked potatoes. And when you press on the skin, it should be firm but give slightly, and then bounce back. If youre not preparing your eggplants right away, store them in the crisper of your fridge up to five daysany longer, and eggplant can become bitter. Photo by Meredith. Preparing Eggplants. 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. Otherwise, peel the skin and then slice or cube the flesh. The flesh should be pale and creamy and free of blemishes. Remove dark or bruised portions and seeds that are turning brown, as they can have a bitter taste and an unpleasant texture. If youre roasting the eggplant whole in the oven or on the grill, leave the skin on, then after roasting, let it cool, and scoop out the flesh. To Salt or Not to Salt. This is a much debated topic. Salting your eggplant slices or cubes does have a few things going for it. First, it draws out juices, which, particularly for older eggplants, can be bitter. Dinner Ideas With Hamburger. It also tightens and firms up the flesh, making the eggplant less likely to soak up as much oil. And salt adds flavor. However, many cooks point out that modern varieties are not the bitter fruits of the past and that salting them makes little difference. Varieties like Japanese and Chinese eggplant should be fine without salting. With globe eggplants, experiment for yourself. If you choose to salt your eggplant, first slice or cube it, and then salt generously, allowing the fruit to sit in a colander for at least an hour, preferably longer. Salted eggplant can sit purging for hours without harming the taste or texture. But before cooking the eggplant, be sure to rinse the salt off well. Then place the slices between sheets of paper towel and press gently to remove juices and firm the flesh. This is particularly important when frying your eggplant slices or cubes. VIDEO How to Cook Eggplant. Watch how to prepare and cook this extremely versatile vegetable. Sauteing Eggplant. For this preparation, the eggplant is peeled and coarsely chopped, then sauteed in olive oil over medium heat until tender. This is my Russian grandmothers version of Italian caponata. Karen Cooke, recipe submitter. Photo by Karen Brady. Frying Eggplant. Eggplant slices act like oil slurping sponges. YhfoSZnC' alt='How Long To Cook Veggies On The Grill' title='How Long To Cook Veggies On The Grill' />Even salted, gently hand pressed slices will soak up plenty of oil. To reduce the amount of oil youll need, try brushing olive oil onto one side of eggplant slices then lay them oil side down in a hot skillet without crowding a crowded pan will cause the slices to steam rather than fry. Brush the up side only just before turning. If you brush both sides at the start, the oil will simply soak into the flesh. Fry until the slices are nice and brown. You can also deep fry eggplant slices and cubes. The super hot oil immediately surrounds the flesh and seals in the moisture as it quickly browns the surface, leaving slices that are not noticeably greasier than the pan fried kind. Eggplant Tomato Bake Photo by Latina. Cook. Roasting or Grilling Eggplant. You can also brush slices of eggplant with olive oil and roast them in the oven or toss them onto a hot grill. To roast whole eggplants in the oven or on the grill, leave the skin on and roast at 4. F 2. 00 degrees C until the skin gets wrinkly and begins to collapse in on the softened fruit. This method will produce a velvety smooth dip or spread. Chef Johns Baba Ghanoush Photo by Chef John. One More Reason to Love Eggplant. Try as you might, its difficult to overcook eggplant. As long as it doesnt burn in the skillet or under the broiler, the flesh will just get increasingly tender and mild. Unlike some veggies, the trick is not to undercook it.