I think most of the issue with not liking eggplant has to do with the bitterness. A coupla spoons of sugar to the recipe will neutralize most, if not all of, the bitterness...
Also, like Calalily said, shiny eggplants usually are not bitter, so pick them when they are still shiny. If they have to hang around and get dull, whip out your sugar dish and you'll be ok!
My harvest today: EGGPLANTS and PEPPERS
Here are things you could do to remove the bitterness of the EGGPLANTS:
- pick eggplants when they are shinny. If the fruit will get dull color on the outside it means that it is over ripe. Also older fruits are harder and woody taste
- or peel the eggplant
- or, here is my favorite. make the eggplants sweat the water and the bitterness. Cut the eggplants and lay them on a colander inside the sink. Sprinkle them with salt. Wait 30 minutes and you will see the water coming out of the eggplant. Pad with a papertowel and grill or bake you eggpants.
I hope this will help you. Eggplants are one of my favorite vegetables. We cook it in all different ways in Italy.
Last weekend I made three casseroles of Eggplant Parmesan !!
I think most of the issues with eggplant is that so much prep has to be done to make it taste edible. IMO
What? Cutting it, peeling it, and cooking it? ☺
Ah, but for homemade eggplant parm! Totally worth every minute!
I don't even peel Rosa Bianca and Egyptian Purple, just chop or slice them and saute with olive oil, garlic, onion, sea salt and other veggies. Serve over brown rice, yummy. Sometimes we slice them, rub with olive oil and basil and toss them on the grill. Also yummy.
More eggplants today and lots of peppers. Eggplants are really big .. hard to tell in the picture.
wow, that is a lot of eggplant.
? I like battered and fried eggplant fresh out of the skillet-------if it lays after fried it gets limp----- If I batter and freeze sliced eggplant separated on a cookie sheet ---then freeze in a baggie------- will the eggplant be "soggy" after freezing, thawing, and then frying? Or is it only good for casseroles after freezing?
I have never seen frozen eggplant in the grocery stores.
This message was edited Oct 10, 2010 7:38 AM
I grill my eggplant and freeze them.
When I take them out from the freezer I defrost them in the microwave and dress them with salt, pepper and olive oil.
If I let the thaw they will get soggy.
Or you can cut the eggplants in cubes, blanch them and freeze them. Use them in sauces or soups.