berry.
Prepared as a culinary vegetable but really a fruit, eggplant is classified as a berry because it contains small, edible seeds. Eggplants belong to the nightshade family which also includes potatoes, tomatoes, paprika, cayenne pepper and other colorful foods.
What family of vegetables is the eggplant in?
the nightshade family
Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of alkaloids.
Is an eggplant a fruit or vegetables?
Eggplants are fruits due to the way they grow. Fruits develop from the flower of a plant and contain seeds, whereas vegetables are any other part of the plant: roots, stems, or leaves. Eggplants belong to the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes and potatoes.
What vegetables are not nightshades?
Here’s a list of vegetables that people often think are nightshades, but are not nightshades:
- Black pepper.
- Coffee.
- Cucumbers.
- Garlic.
- Spinach.
- Sweet potatoes.
- Zucchini.
Why are they called nightshades?
Nightshade plants contain different types of alkaloid compounds, food factors that cause physiological changes in the body. The origin of the name “nightshade” is not clear, but some suggest the name describes how these plants prefer to grow and flower in the night and shade.
Is it OK to 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 vegetables are mistaken for fruits?
Fruits That Are Vegetables: 8 Most Commonly Mistaken Fruits
- Rhubarb. Most people either love or hate rhubarb: there is no in-between.
- Squash. This one’s a bit tricky, as squashes, pumpkins, and other members of the Cucurbitaceae family are technically considered fruits.
- Fluted Pumpkin.
- Beans.
- Peas.
- Sweet Potatoes.
- Yams.
- Grapes.
What are the health benefits of eating eggplant?
Here are 7 surprising benefits you’ll experience if you include eggplant in your regular diet.
- A GREAT SOURCE OF VITAMINS & MINERALS.
- HELPS WITH DIGESTION.
- IMPROVES HEART HEALTH.
- PREVENTS CANCER.
- IMPROVES BONE HEALTH.
- PREVENTS ANEMIA.
- INCREASES BRAIN FUNCTION.
Are blueberries a nightshade?
Blueberries are not technically a nightshade plant. But, like nightshades, they contain some solanine. Blueberries have been called a “superfood” because they contain antioxidant compounds.
Are carrots a nightshade?
Carrots are not on the nightshades vegetable list either. If a recipe calls for the use of peppers, or other nightshade vegetables, try using raw carrots or onions instead.
What vegetables are inflammatory?
Nightshade Vegetables
Eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes are all members of the nightshade family. These vegetables contain the chemical solanine, which some people claim aggravates arthritis pain and inflammation.
Is watermelon a nightshade?
Although there is a plant known as “Watermelon Nightshade” due to it’s leaves resembling watermelon vine leaves, watermelons are not a member of the nightshade family. Common nightshade foods include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatillo, chili peppers, paprika and others.
Is sweet potato a nightshade?
Nightshades belong to the Solanaceae family and include thousands of edible and inedible plants. Tomatoes (all varieties, and tomato products like marinara, ketchup, etc.) Potatoes (white and red potatoes. However, sweet potatoes are not nightshades.)
Are zucchini a nightshade?
Zucchini is not a nightshade. Cucumbers are not nightshades. Coffee is not a nightshade. Squash is not a nightshade.
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).
Do I need to peel eggplant?
While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, “Do you peel eggplant before cooking?” is yes, peel it.
What vegetables Cannot be eaten raw?
These are the 6 vegetables that should never be consumed raw
- Potatoes. Uncooked potatoes not only taste bad but can also lead to digestive problems.
- Cruciferous Vegetables.
- Red Kidney Beans.
- Mushrooms.
- Eggplant.
- French Beans.
Is Pineapple a fruit or veggie?
A pineapple is neither a pine nor an apple, but a fruit consisting of many berries that have grown together. This also means that Pineapples are not a single fruit, but a group of berries that have fused together. The technical term for this is a “multiple fruit” or a “collective fruit”.
What is a true vegetable?
Vegetables are usually grouped according to the portion of the plant that is eaten such as leaves (lettuce), stem (celery), roots (carrot), tubers (potato), bulbs (onion) and flowers (broccoli). A fruit is the mature ovary of a plant. So a tomato is botanically a fruit but is commonly considered a vegetable.
Is avocado a fruit or veggie?
Avocados are one of the few fruits (yes, technically they’re a fruit, not a veggie) that contain healthy unsaturated fats. These fats help lower undesirable LDL cholesterol when eaten in place of saturated fat. The popular Haas avocado, which has dark-green, nubby skin, grows year-round in California.
When should you not eat eggplant?
If there are any brown or dark spots in the flesh, it’s best to toss the vegetable—however, there’s one exception to this rule. Eggplant is susceptible to enzymatic browning, when fruits and veggies begin to brown after being exposed to oxygen (think: an apple or avocado that turns brown).