Are you one of those people who doesn’t like eggplant? Do you find it too bitter? Do you wonder why people are obsessed with eggplant parm as a sub for chicken?

Here’s the secret. You need to salt your eggplant before cooking it. And salting it, is just what it sounds like.

A least an hour before cooking eggplant, in any iteration, after cutting your eggplant in whatever shape you will be cooking it in- slices, chopped, etc.- using a heavy hand, sprinkle salt over all cut surfaces. Then let your eggplant sit out on paper towels.

Salting it, draws out the bitterness from the fruit (yes, eggplant is a fruit, technically a berry, even… peep those seeds). Letting it sit after salting will remove all the alkaloids found naturally within it.

Before cooking, rinse off excess salt, and pat dry.

This is one of those times, you have to trust me and try it, and be surprised by how different it tastes.