Because of its firm texture, which turns creamy during cooking yet holds its shape, Japanese eggplant is especially good for baking, broiling, grilling, and stir-frying. All eggplant is a good source of dietary fiber, B vitamins, and potassium. It’s also rich in powerful antioxidants.
What is the difference between Japanese eggplant and regular eggplant?
Japanese eggplants, like the Chinese variety, have an oblong shape, but they’re not quite as long or thin and have a darker hue. They have a delicate, spongy texture that works well in stir-fries and a creamy, slightly sweet taste. Japanese eggplant is often grilled, as the variety takes on a beautiful, smoky flavor.
What is the healthiest part of eggplant?
The eggplant also provides a good dose of antioxidants. The purple skin of the eggplant is a source of anthocyanin pigments that act as antioxidants in the body and protect cells from disease-contributing damage (1).
Is Japanese eggplant a nightshade?
Eggplants are members of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
Is eggplant healthy or unhealthy?
Health Benefits
While eggplant isn’t the most nutritious vegetable, it does give you a decent supply of potassium and fiber. And at just 25 calories and less than 1 gram of fat per serving, it’s a pretty guilt-free food — as long as you don’t soak it in oil.
Should I peel Japanese eggplant?
Peeling is not completely necessary as the Japanese eggplant has very thin skin. But if your recipe calls for peeled eggplant, remove the skin in a strip pattern rather than removing it wholly. Leaving a bit of skin adds flavor and color to the dish.
What is the best eggplant to eat?
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.
Can you eat eggplant everyday?
The bottom line, if the level of inflammation in the body is low, one can enjoy eggplant and nightshades in moderation. But if you suffer from any chronic inflammatory conditions you might consider limiting your consumption of eggplant until the causes of inflammation resolved.
Is eggplant A Superfood?
Superfood: Eggplant
Eggplant is low in calories and sodium, and is a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, and B vitamins. The next time you’re admiring a bright eggplant, just think of all the antioxidants and minerals it provides.
Is eggplant good for cholesterol?
It is a low-fat food and is rich in fiber and many other bioactive compounds that have a cholesterol-lowering effect. The presence of saponins (a chemical constituent) in eggplant reportedly lowers the total cholesterol and increases good cholesterol.
What do nightshades do to your body?
Some of these negative side effects include gas, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea and joint pain due to inflammation. There are many factors to nightshade intolerance because every individual’s digestive system is unique. However, research suggests underlying issues may be the real cause of the intolerance.
Why are nightshades inflammatory?
Nightshade vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, contain solanine. This substance may increase the leakiness of the intestines and affect the gastrointestinal microbiota, indirectly increasing the inflammation relating to arthritis.
What is Japanese eggplant called?
Nasu
Called Nasu (茄子, ナス, なす) in Japanese, Japanese eggplant is typically long, slender, and oblong, about 20-25 cm in length. It comes in dark purple and with glossy smooth skin. The flesh is cream-colored, almost seedless, and spongy.
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).
What are side effects of eating eggplant?
They include:
- hives.
- itchy or tingly lips, tongue, or throat.
- coughing.
- stomach pain or cramping.
- vomiting.
- diarrhea.
Is eggplant good for your kidneys?
Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is a great vegetable choice for kidney diets because it is low in potassium, sodium and phosphorus. One cup of steamed eggplant contains 2 mg sodium, 167 mg potassium and 17 mg phosphorus.
Does Japanese eggplant taste different?
Japanese eggplants, like Chinese eggplants, have a tender skin and it has a sweet flavor as they are also seedless. A thing to note here though is that they do get a little more ‘bitter’ as they mature, so if you prefer a ‘sweeter’ taste, you may want to find a younger Japanese eggplant.
Do you have to salt Japanese eggplant before cooking?
Flavor: Globe eggplants have a slightly bitter taste, so chefs prefer salting or seasoning them during preparation. Japanese eggplants have a milder flavor with a sweet tinge and don’t require as much salt or seasonings.
How long does Japanese eggplant last?
Freshly harvested Japanese eggplants will last for a week when kept in a cool place away from direct sunlight, like a root cellar. In humid conditions no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius, they will keep well for two weeks.
What is the difference between Japanese and Italian eggplant?
The smaller version of the larger purple skinned eggplant is often called Italian or baby eggplant. These have a somewhat more intense flavor and the flesh is much more tender. The straight thin eggplants known as Japanese or Asian eggplant have thin delicate skins like Italian eggplant but the flesh is sweeter.
Why do you have to soak eggplant in water?
Many recipes call for salting and rinsing eggplant before cooking it to draw out its bitterness. Brining can be used instead and has the added advantage of helping the eggplant keep its shape when it’s cooked, whether your recipe calls for baking, frying, or grilling.