Content
Peeling eggplants is not necessary in most cases. The peel contains quite a lot of valuable elements, fiber, it helps to lose weight and cleanses the body of toxins. But in some cases cleaning is necessary. How to do it correctly is described in the article.
Are eggplants peeled or not?
You can peel eggplants for stewing, cooking caviar and other dishes in which it is not necessary to preserve the structure of the pieces. But if it is required that they do not fall apart and keep their shape, for example, in rings, there is no need to peel the peel. Therefore, it is impossible to answer this question unequivocally - it all depends on what kind of dish or preparation for the winter you plan to make.
In most cases there is no need to remove the peel.
Are eggplants peeled for salad?
For salad, it is better to peel the vegetables, since they are chopped finely, and then the peel will be felt on the tongue. This is especially important if you plan to use fresh fruit.
But if you need to keep the shape (for example, cubes), it is better not to remove the skin. It will allow you to maintain the desired structure - then the salad mixture will look more attractive.
Are eggplants peeled for stews?
Stew involves long-term stewing of various vegetables. At the same time, they are usually cut into small cubes, which can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Therefore, you should not remove the skin. Otherwise, the pieces may lose their structure.
Are eggplants peeled for frying?
Eggplants are usually fried in longitudinal slices or circles. They must retain their shape in order to remain beautiful and undamaged on the plate. Therefore, it is definitely not worth peeling the skin.
Do I need to peel eggplants before freezing?
It is also not advisable to clean it before freezing. The peel contains quite a lot of useful substances; it is used in dietary nutrition. Therefore, it is recommended to leave all parts of the vegetable without bothering yourself with unnecessary work.
Do I need to peel eggplants for caviar?
For caviar, it is not necessary to peel the fruit. But if they are old and the skin is quite rough, you can remove it. Cooking takes quite a long time - during this time the pulp will have time to digest into a homogeneous mass.
Is the peel healthy?
Eggplant peel is quite useful. So, it contains a rare substance called nezunin. It is an antioxidant that protects neurons and brain tissue from destruction by free radicals. Along with this, the antioxidant prevents premature aging processes and is involved in the prevention of cancer. Another useful function is ensuring healthy joints and preventing arthritis.
The calorie content of the peel is low - only 24 kcal per 100 g.The product is dietary, moreover, it contains dietary fiber (100 g 13% of the total daily requirement). This is an important nutritional component that should be consumed on a daily basis. The benefits of fiber come down to several points:
- reducing the feeling of hunger;
- promoting weight loss;
- stimulation of peristalsis;
- cleansing the intestines of toxic substances;
- cholesterol reduction;
- blood sugar control;
- prevention of heart attack, stroke and other dangerous pathologies.
The peel is quite useful, so it is better not to remove it
It contains most B vitamins, cobalt, copper, manganese, magnesium and other trace elements. Therefore, all useful substances should be preserved.
Do eggplants need to be seeded?
Whether it is necessary to peel eggplants from seeds or not - this question also does not have a clear answer. In fact, everything is decided according to the situation. In large eggplants (as well as large zucchini), the seeds are already well formed, they have a dense shell and are visually expressed. To prevent the grains from getting on your tongue, it is really better to remove them.
But in small fruits the seeds are practically not expressed, so it is not necessary to peel them. Moreover, grains contain quite a lot of useful substances, so it is better to leave them.
How to peel eggplants
Peeling an eggplant correctly is quite simple. To do this, you need to arm yourself with a sharp knife and work carefully. Moreover, you can peel the vegetable completely or partially.The basic rules are described below.
Complete cleaning
To quickly peel eggplants, proceed as follows:
- Use a sharp knife to remove the base of the stem.
- Holding the vegetable tightly in your hand, remove the top layer. They work gradually, removing one strip after another.
- Peel until the skin is gone.
You can work not only with a knife, but also with a special vegetable peeler (housekeeper). This is a very convenient device that you need to point away from yourself to avoid getting hurt.
Partial cleaning
Partial cleaning will be necessary in cases where you plan to cook vegetables so that they retain their shape, for example, bake in the oven. You can also work with a knife or vegetable peeler:
- Remove the base of the stem.
- Gradually remove strips one at a time (at intervals of 2 cm).
- Then cut into pieces of the desired shape and size, for example, small circles or cubes.
Partially peeled vegetables
After preparing the dish
If you need to quickly peel baked or stewed eggplants, you need to let them cool. To do this, vegetables are laid out on a board or on a thick plate. In this case, peel with a knife, carefully removing the skin. It will not work as a housekeeper - even with slight pressure the pulp will be seriously damaged.
If the fruits are too soft, you will have to work with your fingers or use a spoon or fork. These vegetables can be used to make salad or stew. Sometimes they are also used for stuffing, as is the case with bell peppers.
Conclusion
It is necessary to peel eggplants only in cases where you need to make a salad or the fruits are old and the skin is quite rough. In other situations, it is better not to remove it - this is extra work. In addition, the skin contains quite a lot of useful substances.
