The Thickness Mistake To Avoid While Slicing Eggplant
Eggplant is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways. However, many home cooks become frustrated when slices of aubergine shrink dramatically during the cooking process. When this happens, it can negatively impact the balance of eggplant with other ingredients or components of a recipe. To ensure that your slices of eggplant retain their desired size and shape after cooking, you need to adjust the thickness when you cut the slices.
Eggplant is known for its high water content, which means it loses a lot of its liquid and mass during the cooking process. Depending on the variety, the vegetable slices can shrink by 25% to 50%. In order to minimize this change in size, cut the eggplant width-wise into slices rather than lengthwise. By doing so, you create larger surface areas that shrink more evenly, resulting in pieces that are closer to your desired outcome after cooking. It's also important to cut your aubergine slices approximately twice as large as you want the final cooked slices to be. For example, if you desire one-inch slices after cooking, cut the raw slices to be around two inches in width.
Tips for slicing eggplant and what recipes to use them in
The first step in cutting your eggplant is to see if the recipe calls for it to be peeled or not. If it doesn't, try leaving the skin intact as it's packed with extra fiber and healthy nutrients like potassium and Vitamin C, according to Healthline. Next, to ensure consistent and even slices, all you need is a sharp knife. However, using a mandoline can provide even more preside thickness and uniformity. Then once you've mastered the art of slicing eggplant for size retention, enjoy perfectly sliced pieces of the vegetable in all kinds of dishes.
For example, create even layers of breaded and fried aubergine slices, tomato sauce, and cheese for comforting and satisfying eggplant parmesan. You can also try grilling it into steaks for a hearty and flavorful main course or a delightful addition to sandwiches or salads. Alternatively, you can roast them until tender and golden brown for a simple and flavorful side dish or a delicious addition to grain bowls. So, embrace these tips, prepare your eggplant slices with precision, and savor the incredible-tasting recipes you might have been disappointed by in the past.