Brilio.net - There are many simple cooking ingredients that are suitable for processing into vegetables or side dishes to accompany typical home-cooked rice, one of which is eggplant. Eggplant can be cooked in various ways, but the most popular is definitely fried.
Fried eggplant is not only suitable to eat with rice, but can also be eaten as a snack on its own. To make it even more delicious, fried eggplant can also be dipped with your favorite chili sauce or sauce.
However, many people avoid cooking fried eggplant, because the results are considered too oily. Fried eggplant that is too oily usually turns mushy in texture, making it less enjoyable to eat. In fact, there are a number of cooking tricks so that fried eggplant doesn't absorb a lot of oil, you know.
One trick, you can soak the eggplant in salt water first before frying it. On the other hand, if you don't want to use salt water, there is one more trick that is no less effective from YouTube account user Asty Arsyad Official. After all, to practice this trick, you only need one kitchen ingredient.
"This (eggplant easily absorbs oil) is caused by eggplant flesh which tends to be soft and has small air pockets in it so it quickly absorbs oil or liquid," said YouTube account owner Asty Arsyad Official, quoted by BrilioFood on Thursday (18/4).
Tricks for frying eggplant so that it doesn't get soft and absorbs oil.
Before getting into the trick, make sure the eggplant has been washed thoroughly and cut into pieces first. Then, you can coat the eggplant with flavoring so it's not bland. If so, then dip the eggplant into a container containing cornstarch.
Yup, cornstarch is the main kitchen ingredient for practicing the trick of frying eggplant so that it doesn't get soft and absorbs this oil.
photo: YouTube/Asty Arsyad Official
After adding cornstarch, the eggplant can be fried in hot oil. Make sure the oil is really hot when adding the eggplant, this also helps the eggplant not absorb the oil easily. Apart from that, use a medium stove heat so that the eggplant is thoroughly cooked.
photo: YouTube/Asty Arsyad Official
Once the eggplant is cooked, remove and drain. The owner of the YouTube account Asty Arsyad Official shows the difference between fried eggplants that are given cornstarch and those that are not. It can be seen that eggplant without cornstarch absorbs a lot of oil and the results are softer than eggplant with cornstarch.
photo: YouTube/Asty Arsyad Official
How about it, this trick for frying eggplant is really easy, isn't it? Taking a peek at Asty Arsyad Official's YouTube upload, apart from having been watched 2,000 times, the comments column is also filled with enthusiastic netizens, you know.
"If you use tapioca flour, you can," asked YouTube @user-qm5mp6rg4z and got a response from the video owner, "You can."
"Wow, this is very good, mother, it turns out that frying eggplant so that the oil remains clear uses cornstarch, yes, the difference is very big, mother, those who don't use flour use oil," wrote YouTube @momJJ1202.
How to store eggplant.
Eggplant that is not stored properly can rot quickly, you know. Signs of rotten eggplant can usually be seen from the color becoming darker and the texture becoming soft. Here's how to store eggplant so it lasts longer.
1. Store in the refrigerator.
Store eggplant in the refrigerator or refrigerator in an airtight container. Cooler temperatures can slow the rotting process.
2. Don't wash too early.
Do not wash eggplant before storing. Only wet the eggplant when you are ready to use it. Wetting eggplants before storing can speed up spoilage.
3. Choose fresh eggplant.
Choose eggplant that is still fresh when buying it. Avoid eggplant that is too soft or has brown spots.
4. Do not store with fruits that produce ethylene gas.
Eggplants are susceptible to ethylene gas produced by some fruits, such as apples and bananas. Avoid storing eggplant close to these fruits to reduce the risk of them rotting quickly.
5. Inspect and remove rot.
Regularly check stored eggplants and immediately remove any that have started to rot. One rotten fruit can speed up the rotting of other fruits or vegetables around it.
6. Use a paper or plastic cover.
Wrap the eggplant in a paper or plastic cover that can absorb moisture. This can help maintain proper humidity and prevent rot.