Chinese eggplants are long and thin with vibrant lavender skin and white flesh, and can appear either crooked or straight.
What is the difference between eggplant and Chinese eggplant?
China is the world’s top producer and consumer of eggplant, so it’s apt that the Chinese eggplant variety is so distinct. It has a lighter, almost pastel exterior, with a white flesh and sweeter taste that fits its appearance. The Chinese variety contains fewer seeds than globe eggplants, and are therefore less bitter.
Do you have to peel Chinese eggplant?
Chinese eggplant is thin and long, making it very easy to cut into pieces. There’s no need to peel this variety since the skins cook up very quickly. You can cut them however you prefer (round slices, cubes, etc), but traditionally, this type of dish uses eggplant that’s cut into thick matchsticks.
What is another name for Chinese eggplant?
Also known as Oriental Charm and Pingtung Long, Chinese eggplant inherently has fewer seeds than Western eggplant varieties making them less bitter and meatier. Chinese eggplants are popularly used in stir-fries and will hold its shape when cooked.
What is Chinese eggplant good for?
Chinese eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as braising, stir-frying, sautéing, and grilling. Their tender flesh cooks quicker than most eggplant varieties, and its flavor and texture will be at its peak when baked.
Can you eat Chinese eggplant raw?
Can You Eat Eggplant Raw? Luckily, the answer is yes! While the leaves and flowers can be toxic, the eggplant itself is safe to consume both raw and cooked, and the compound that some might be sensitive to, solanine, is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.
What does Chinese eggplant taste like?
Chinese eggplants are long and thin with vibrant lavender skin and white flesh, and can appear either crooked or straight. They taste mildly sweet and hold up when cooked.
Do you need to salt Chinese eggplant?
Varieties like Japanese and Chinese eggplant should be fine without salting.
Why do you soak eggplant before cooking?
Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.
Are Chinese and Japanese eggplant the same?
Characterized by their long, narrow shape, both Japanese and Chinese eggplant can be hard to differentiate. Japanese eggplant tends to have a much deeper purple color, while Chinese eggplant is usually lighter, more lavender-purple, and is sometimes even longer.
What is the best tasting eggplant?
Sweet, tender, flavorful and creamy, Fairy Tale are simply the best eggplants we’ve ever tasted,” says Taylor. This quick-cooking variety is so delicious that it doesn’t even need to be salted. Taylor suggests slicing them lengthwise, then tossing them into stir-fries or sautés, or skewering them on the grill.
Are Chinese eggplants easy to grow?
Eggplants from China tend to be elongated and deeply purple with glossy skin. They are excellent in stir fry and soup. They are quite easy to grow as long as they receive plenty of sun and heat.
How long does Chinese eggplant last?
To refrigerate, wrap in a paper towel and place in a reusable container or perforated plastic bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator for use within 5 – 7 days. Eggplant may also be blanched or steamed then frozen for up to six months.
Is eggplant good for high blood pressure?
Eggplant powder intake significantly decreased the hospital diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at week 8 overall and in the normal-high BP group, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP at week 12 overall and in the grade 1 hypertension group, compared to those of the placebo group.
How big do Chinese eggplants get?
Chinese eggplant
Chinese eggplants are long and thin, usually around 2 inches (5 cm) wide and 12 inches (30 cm) long. They’re lighter in color than Western eggplants, with lavender skin, although some cultivars can even be pink. Chinese eggplant has white, tender flesh and very few seeds.
How do you know when an eggplant is ready?
Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant’s ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds. They should be clearly visible.
Does eggplant need to be refrigerated?
Room temperature: You can store whole eggplants at room temperature. (Cut eggplant needs to go into the refrigerator or freezer.) Place the eggplant in a paper bag or a vented bowl. No need to tightly close the bag or cover the bowl—eggplants require airflow to stay fresh.
Is eggplant good for weight loss?
Eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen. Fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly and can promote fullness and satiety, reducing calorie intake ( 16 ). Each cup (82 grams) of raw eggplant contains 3 grams of fiber and just 20 calories (2).
What are the long skinny eggplants called?
Chinese eggplant
The Chinese eggplant — not to be confused with the similar-looking Japanese eggplant — has a long, narrow body with a light to mid-toned purple exterior and white flesh. Because it has fewer seeds that the familiar globe (American) variety, it’s less bitter in taste.
Do you peel Japanese eggplant?
There’s no need to peel the eggplant—the skin of a Japanese eggplant is thin and easy to bite through.
Which eggplant is less bitter?
A young, freshly picked eggplant with smooth, glossy skin and intense color will have no bitterness whatsoever if consumed soon after picking. Old or overripe eggplants or those that are off color or sit out for a while after being harvested are more likely to exhibit a bitter flavor.