Eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) is a democratic food for respectable eating , and it ’s delicious bathe in tomato sauce and pinch with Parmesan cheese or cooked on the grillwork . However , if you ’ve never seen or eaten eggplant , the name alone probably conjures up some interesting images . So , what is an eggplant , and where does it grow ?
Today ’s American eggplant has a tear - drib shape with violet - black skin . However , earlier versions were small , clean or icteric , and round like a chicken or goofball egg , which led to its vulgar name . While we call eggplant a veg , it ’s technically a yield since it grows from a inflorescence plant and contains seeds .
This odd - looking yield veggie has a soft flavor , making it versatile for many eggplant recipes . In improver , it ’s packed with a reach of nutrient and vitamin like vitamin one C and contains almost no cholesterol or fat . If that ’s not enough , follow our gentle fashion togrow eggplantsat homein a bed or container .
Eggplant Plants – Growing and Cooking
What are mad apple , and where did eggplant originate ? These are plebeian doubt for those unfamiliar with this plant . Eggplant is a yield and the chief ingredient in Eggplant Parmesan , along with other lulu .
There are different types of eggplant plant , from the Amerind eggplant and Nipponese eggplant to the Taiwanese eggplant and Thai garden egg . However , the most unwashed purple eggplant in North America is the Italian eggplant and Globe eggplant . find out what eggplant is , its maturation habits and uses , and crest for growing it at home and cooking it in a peach .
What are Eggplants?
What are eggplants ? Eggplants ( Solanum melongena l ) are a plant from the nightshade family related to the Lycopersicon esculentum . get a line the different types of eggplant plants , their spring up habit , and how they alter in coming into court .
There are various heirloom and hybrid eggplant types , and they are a perennial commonly grown as an annual . Some democratic cultivars for home growing are Black Magic , Black Beauty , and Black Bell . However , other mixed bag include Italian , Indian , Japanese , Formosan , and white potpourri like Albino and White Beauty .
Eggplant plant life have an erect bushy stem with with child ovate leaves . They acquire pendant reddish blue efflorescence and fruit ranging in colouring material from lavender and glum purple to red or purple striped , and sometimes wan immature or yellow-bellied . Depending on the type , they are warm - season crop that thrive in hot climates and grow from two to four groundwork extensive and tall .
Where Did Eggplant Originate?
Eggplant , brinjal , or garden egg grows worldwide from New Zealand , the United Kingdom , and the United States to Southeast Asia and the Middle East . However , where did eggplant originate ?
The eggplant originate in India and China , cultivated for G of years . Spanish Moors brought garden egg to Eastern and Southern Europe , where it uprise in popularity . It was introduce to the Americas in the 1500s , where it was thought to be poisonous until years later .
Now , eggplant grows worldwide , and it is hardy in USDA zona 5 through 12 . While people in North America call it an brinjal , those in the United Kingdom use the word brinjal for these fruit .
What is an Eggplant?
Eggplant plants produce flowers that turn into eatable fruit in varying size , shapes , and color . Learn about eggplant yield ’s show , flavor , grain , and popular ways to prepare them at home .
The Taiwanese and Nipponese eggplants have few seeds and thin skins that do not require undress . Chinese varieties are libertine with purple skin , and the Japanese types are long and tranquil with light purple skin .
Italian eggplants are smaller varieties that are more oval with inscrutable purplish skin , while Indian cultivars are round and pocket-size with dark royal skin and a immature calyx . Rosa Bianca or graffiti eggplant has red or purple - stripy skin .
If you ’re search for a unique eggplant , the Easter Egg is a small variety that produces eggs - sized white garden egg yield .
While Solanum melongena alter in appearing , they have a similar taste which is sensitive , modest , and sweet with a hint of vegetable gall . They are spongy and firm when peeled , become tender after cooking , and engross the flavors of other solid food in a dish . They are popular in Middle Eastern , Mediterranean , Asiatic , and American cuisine .
There are many ways to prepare garden egg , from baked and broil to saute , grill , and roast eggplant . Since Solanum melongena has a indifferent appreciation , there is no limit to the ways to comprise this vegetable into recipe . Use it in soups , stew , or stir - fries , bake it in a pasta ravisher like Eggplant Parm , or make it into a magnetic inclination .
Growing Eggplant Plants in the Home Garden
Eggplant plants want well - draining soil rich with organic matter and raft of cheer to prosper , and picking an field that fits these needs goes a prospicient way to rise a sizable works . When grow them you will need to be sure to stay on top oftrimming eggplantleaves and taking care of the sphere that they produce in .
to boot , it ’s all important to select a worthy plant for your site . For model , globe eggplant bush farm well in strong climate , Japanese types are idealistic for cooler areas , and Amerind or Fairytale eggplants are good choice for containers .
Sow the seeds inside six to eight calendar week before the spring ’s last frost and graft the seedling alfresco when the dirt temperature is 70 ° farad . Space the plant 18 column inch apart with rows 30 to 36 in apart .
Water them regularly without throw the soil soggy and feed them a balanced fertilizer , compost tea , or fish photographic emulsion once a month . check out for flea beetles , aphids , and other vernacular pest , and remove them by script immediately . If you discover an infestation , use insecticidal goop to eliminate them .
Pick eggplants when the fruit are modest for the in force gustatory sensation and pick them oftentimes to boost more output , and clip the fruit with part of the stem attach . Harvesteggplants whenthe yield is brilliant , shiny , firm , and heavy for its sizing . It ’s ready to clean when you press your thumb into the skin , and an imprint appears and then disappear .
How Long Does Eggplant Last?
How long do eggplant fruit last , and what does bad Solanum melongena calculate like ? Explore way to stash away mad apple from the veg patch or foodstuff store and how long they detain fresh .
While it ’s beguiling , annul storing whole aubergine in the fridge . Instead , keep them in a well - ventilated , cool area like the basement or garage , and use them within a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or two after picking .
If this is n’t possible , it ’s okay to store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator , but check them regularly for gall . An eggplant that is big is soft to the touch and does n’t reverberate back after pressing the peel .
To put in cut eggplant , slice up the yield , spray them with lemon succus , and layer them in a container before refrigerating the eggplant . If you have leftover cooked eggplant , keep them in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge for three to five days .
For the most lengthy computer memory , consider freezing the eggplant . set about by slicing the aubergine into one - inch round and baking them at 350 ° farad for 15 minutes . permit them cool and pat dry with a paper towel .
Place the slash into a deep freezer bag , separated with wax paper , to forbid sticking . compose the date and message on the bag and freeze them for up to eight month .
How to Make Baba Ganoush with Eggplant
While Eggplant Parmesan is a popular way to prepare eggplant , another simple way of life to use up your fruit is to prepare Baba Ganoush . This Mediterranean eggplant plunge is delightful on impudent vegetable or pita and nearly effortless to make .
roll the eggplant in aluminum foil , put them on a bake sheet and bake them in a 400 ° F oven for an hour . Take them out of the oven and determine aside to cool down before peel off the eggplant tegument and removing large clumps of seeds .
congeal the eggplant flesh in a strainer over a container for 20 bit to remove extra liquidness . add together the eggplant , tahini , Olea europaea oil colour , lemon juice , Allium sativum , and salt into a blender or nutrient processor and pulse until unruffled . Scoop the dip into a beauty , sprinkle with smoked paprika , and serve .
Growing eggplant plant at dwelling house is fun and well-to-do , and cookery garden egg is even better . There are many cultivars to find fault from , and the fruits have a neutral flavor , making them ideal for a immense range of recipes , whether you make grilled mad apple or saute eggplant slices in olive oil .
What is an eggplant is a interrogation new gardeners often have , and we ’d love it if you ’d apportion the answer and our eggplant guidebook with your family and friends on Facebook and Pinterest .
