Oven roasted eggplant

Oven roasted eggplant 700g/ 1.2 lb eggplants (2 medium), aka aubergine 3 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt (kosher / cooking salt, or 1/4 tsp table salt) 1/2 tsp black pepper Preheat oven to 240°C / 450°F (220°C fan). Line a tray with parchment/baking paper (optional - recommended for first timers so you don't lose the caramelised surface). Cut eggplant into large cubes - 3 cm / 1.2". Place in large bowl, drizzle with oil, salt and pepper. Toss well, spread on tray, roast 20 minutes. Turn, roast for a further 10 minutes - edges should be caramelised, soft inside, but they're not shrivelled up and dismal. Transfer to serving plate. Delicious served plain, but see below for some finishing options. FINISHING OPTIONS: 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (my favourite!), drizzle of fresh lemon juice, parsley, chives or green onions (for touch of freshness and colour, not so much flavour), tiny drizzle of balsamic vinegar (pop of tartness is terrific! OR drizzle of balsamic glaze), dollop of yogurt (creamy yogurt pairs really well with the juicy eggplant flesh). Notes: Peeling - if you're bothered by eggplant skin (which I am not - I don't find it at all chewy), peel "zebra tripes" down the eggplant like this. If you don't leave at least some skin on, then the eggplant cubes are prone to collapsing and turning into mush - you need some skin to hold it together. Bitterness & salting - In the past, the standard preparation method for eggplant including salting the eggplant to remove bitterness. The eggplant of today has largely had the bitterness bred out of it so unless you have a very old, very large one, you shouldn't have this problem. I never have. However, if you can't get your head around cooking eggplant without salting it, here's how: sprinkle the cubed eggplant with 1 tsp salt, toss, leave in colander for 30 minutes. Rinse then thoroughly pat dry, toss with oil and pepper (NO SALT), roast per recipe. Select eggplants that are firm but have a bit of give, and feel heavy for their size (light = dried out inside).