Eggplants

Eggplant or aubergine is a species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit. 

Botanically, eggplant is a berry, just like blueberries, watermelon, or tomatoes. In botany, a berry is a fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible, relatively soft pericarp. 

Culinarily, it’s a vegetable, as it’s used in main dishes and not eaten for sweetness.  Its origin is considered to be India where it continues to grow wild. This spiny, bitter, orange, pea-sized fruit has been cultivated throughout India and China for more than 1500 years. 

As trade routes opened, eggplant was introduced to Europe by the Arabs and transported to Africa by the Persians. The Spaniards carried it with them to the New World and, by the early 1800s, both white and purple varieties could be found in American gardens.

The fruit is a large egg-shaped berry with a glossy surface that varies in colour from dark purple to red, pink, yellowish, or white and is sometimes striped; the colour and shape of the white variety is the source of the common name.

There are 25 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of Eggplant. It is composed of 92% water, 6% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and negligible fat.  Eggplant is a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B1 and copper. It is a good source of manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Eggplant also contains phytonutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic acid.

A staple in cuisines of the Mediterranean region, eggplant figures prominently in such classic dishes as the Greek moussaka, the Italian eggplant parmigiana, and the Middle Eastern relish baba ghanoush. It is also frequently served as a baked, grilled, fried, or boiled vegetable and is used as a garnish and in stews.