Article

Eggplant

By: Co+op

Eggplant, or aubergine as the French and English like to call it, was first cultivated in China in the 5th century. When it was introduced to Italy in the 14th century, it was used as a decorative plant, and when brought to the Western hemisphere by European explorers, it was reputed to cause insanity and disease, so like the tomato (once thought to be poisonous), it took a while for eggplant to catch on as a culinary delight. When less bitter varieties were introduced in the 18th century, eggplant truly found its place in the kitchen.

Easily grown in tropical and subtropical areas, the world's top eggplant producer today is China, followed by India, Turkey, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Italy, the Philippines and Spain. In the United States, Georgia has boasting rights.

Eggplant is a very good source of dietary fiber, and—according to the USDA—it also provides potassium, manganese, copper and thiamin. It contains phytonutrients as well as vitamin B6, folate, magnesium and niacin.

Like tomatoes, sweet peppers and potatoes, eggplant belongs to the Nightshade family of vegetables. Most eggplants are dark, glossy purple, but you'll also find white, green, mauve and yellow varieties. In fact, the name “eggplant” comes from yellow and white European varieties that looked like goose or hen's eggs.

Elongated, oval, black-skinned varieties include Harris Special Hibush, Burpee Hybrid, Black Magic, Classic, Dusky and Black Beauty. Slender cultivars with dark purple skin include Little Fingers, Ichiban, Pingtung Long, Long Purple, and Tycoon. Green skin varieties include Thai Green and Louisiana Long Green. Dourga is a white skinned, slender cultivar. Egg-shaped, white varieties include Casper and Easter Egg. Bi-colored cultivars are Violetta de Firenze and Rosa Bianca.

Baked, fried or grilled, presented as an hors d'oeuvre or entrée, eggplant offers a rich, unique, complex taste.

Toss eggplant with other vegetables and roast, as in this recipe for Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables. Or grill with other veggies in this Grilled Vegetable Antipasto recipe.

Season it with a curry blend and add to a winter stew—its dense texture makes it a great meat substitute, including on the grill. It's an expected ingredient in classic, colorful Vegetable Ratatouille. Include it in stir-fries and, of course, celebrate it with Baba Ghanouj and eggplant Parmesan.

Eggplant is especially welcome in dishes starring pasta, ham, lamb and lentils. In the cheese department, mozzarella, feta, goat, Gruyere, ricotta and Parmesan partner especially well. Pine nuts and walnuts, anchovies, capers and olives are other good options. For spices, try basil, cumin, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme. For condiments, reach for lemon juice, olive oil, aioli, tahini, balsamic vinegar and béchamel sauce.

A few cooking tips:

  • Use a stainless steel knife when cutting eggplant, because carbon steel will cause it to turn black.
  • It's usually not necessary to remove the skin, though large eggplants and white eggplants may have skin that's too tough and will need to be peeled.
  • To reduce bitterness and keep the eggplant from soaking up too much oil during cooking, cut and sprinkle it with salt. Allow it to sit and "sweat" for about half an hour. Then rinse to remove most of the salt.

August through October is peak season for eggplant in most areas. The ideal eggplant should be firm and heavy for its size, and the color should be vivid, with smooth and shiny skin. Avoid waxed eggplant and those with bruises, scars or discoloration. The stem and cap should be bright green. Smaller eggplants are generally less bitter than larger ones.

Gently press the skin with your thumb. If it bounces back, it's ripe, but if an indentation remains, it's not.

Store uncut and unwashed eggplant in the refrigerator crisper. Use it within a day or two because it will become more bitter with age. Eggplant perishes quickly once cut, so try to purchase the size you need. But if you do wind up with some leftover, there's no shortage of delicious options for using it up quickly!