How To Cook Egg Plant

All you need to know about: How To Cook Egg Plant.

Step One: Choose an Eggplant

When selecting an eggplant for cooking, look for one that is firm, heavy for its size, and free of blemishes and discoloration. The skin should be shiny and taut, not wrinkled. If it sounds hollow when you tap it, it’s not fresh.

Step Two: Preparing the Eggplant

Once you have selected the eggplant, remove its stem and discard. Wash the eggplant under cold running water, scrubbing it gently with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt. Slice the eggplant into rounds, cubes, or strips, depending on the desired end result.

Step Three: Cooking the Eggplant

Eggplants can be boiled, steamed, sautéed, grilled, roasted, or fried. When boiling, add the eggplant to a pot of boiling water and cook until it is tender, about 10 minutes. When steaming, place the eggplant in a steamer basket over boiling water and cover. Steam for 10 minutes or until tender.

For sautéing, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant and cook for about 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring often. When grilling, brush the eggplant slices with oil and grill over high heat for about 4 minutes on each side. When roasting, preheat the oven to 400°F and place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet. Cook for about 15 minutes or until tender.

For frying, heat 1/2 cup of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant slices and cook until brown and crispy, about 10 minutes.

Step Four: Serving the Eggplant

Once the eggplant is cooked, it can be used in a variety of dishes. It can be served as a side dish or as the main ingredient in a casserole, stir-fry, or soup.