What really? Do I really have to salt the aubergines? Do you?

[Spidermama]

I'm making caponata. The recipe says to salt the aubergines for an hour. I thought this was old advice but this is a new book.

Do you salt your aubergines?

[bran]

I think the newer hybrids of aubergines don't need to be salted, I never have.

[McDreamy]

Yes I salt mine - and then rinse

[sunchowder]

They might taste bitter if you don't.....

[sis]

nope, and never have. We are Indian and eat an awful lot of aubergines and the first time my mum and I came across this salting business was on a tv cookery show and we just thought 'eh? how strange?'.

[AbominableSnowMum]

Nope - I don't. I understood it was from older varieties as well, and that modern ones are less bitter anyway.

[Overrun]

I've heard that the new hybrids are less bitter so don't have to be salted. Don't bother

[alipiggie]

Another one who has never salted either and I use them a great deal. Especially to make a low fat lasagne using layers of sliced aubergine instead of pasta.

[Nockney]

I used to. Then I stopped. I did not notice a difference.

I only bother salting onions now, and only if I'm planning to eat them raw.

(I do have a book called 'don't sweat the aubergine' but haven't yet got to the bit where they explain why not.)

[Overrun]

Salting Onions, I have never heard of that Nockney

[Hulababy]

I have never salted aubergines. never knew you were supposed to. We don't cook with salt anyway, so would never have thought to do it.

[Enid]

it doesnt affect the taste anymore

however if you do bother, they don't soak up as much oil

[Spidermama]

Thanks all. Do you know what I might do? I think I'm going to make two pots of caponata. One with salted aubergines and one without. Then I'll do a taste test, a little like the Pepsi Challenge if you will, and then I'll know for sure.

I wonder why they don't soak up so much oil enid. I would have thought they'd be less watery after salting, which could be a good thing with a recipe like caponata which should be very rich.

[Nockney]

Salting onions really does make a difference. I don't think they end up salty - they taste sweet, really.

[moondog]

I think it used to be a necessity when they were bred less weirdly and were bitter.
My mother did it in the 70s but there is no need any more.

[Spidermama]

Ah. Moondog has spoken. I am now satisfied.

[MegaLegs]

I never salted shop bought ones but my homegrown ones last summer were quite bitter so I did.

[MrsSpoon]

Agree with all who said you don't need to salt aubergines these days but salt does draw the moisture out of them, if that's the effect you need.

[funnypeculiar]

no.

and I don't stuff mushrooms either

[moondog]

Homegrown!!

If I'm going to fry mine,I often dry roast for a bit to avoid achieving the sadlle bag thighs look.

[WideWebWitch]

I don't salt them either but I have wondered whether people do or not, will read this thread with interest!

[MrsMills]

never salt them and they've always been lovely