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.
What kind of eggplant is long and skinny?
Japanese eggplant
Japanese eggplant are long and thin, with a dark, almost black color and glossy appearance. They get very soft and creamy when cooked, and have an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture.
What are the different kind of eggplants?
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 difference between Sicilian eggplant and regular eggplant?
SICILIAN EGGPLANT
Italian Eggplant, also called “Baby Egg- plant”, looks like Regular Eggplant only smaller and more slender. This variety is ideal for roasting and can be used in ways similar to regular eggplant. White Eggplant is round, smooth, and white, with a green calyx on top.
What is the difference between eggplant and Italian eggplant?
Italian eggplants are like smaller, slightly sweeter, versions of globe eggplants that still maintain a thick, spongy texture. The sweeter notes in Italian eggplant work well with salty and umami flavors, such as those in meat or cheese, making them perfect for an eggplant Parmesan or a layered dish like lasagna.
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.
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 there small varieties of eggplant?
Other Miniature Varieties
The “Small Ruffle Red” produces 2-inch fruits that look like tomatoes with their green skin that fades to an orange-red. This textured fruit has deep creases, similar to a pumpkin. The “Sweet Red” is a slightly larger variety, producing 2 1/2-inch fruits with pale green stripes.
What is zebra eggplant?
This unique African variety has a delicious, unexpectedly semi-sweet flavor. The fruit are versatile and can be eaten raw, boiled, sautéed, or in soups. Many traditional African recipes can be found online but they also are excellent simply grilled or sautéed with other veggies.
What are Italian eggplants?
Italian Eggplant can be an elongated pear-shape or almost cylindrical, with a glossy deep purple skin. This is a meaty, mild-tasting vegetable that is low in calories. It is never eaten raw, but it can be baked, grilled, or sautéed.
What is a Brazilian eggplant?
Jiló (Solanum gilo) is a type of eggplant popular in parts of Brazil. This plant is originally from Africa (Sękara, A. et. al. 2007) and was brought to Brazil with the slave trade.
Which eggplant is the sweetest?
And their colors range from white to stripy purple or from deep purple to green. The shinier eggplants are, the fresher they are. The fresher and younger they are, the sweeter they are.
How many different types of eggplants are there?
18 Different Types of Eggplant.
What does Sicilian eggplant look like?
Sicilian eggplant are big and round, about the size of a grapefruit, and lighter purple in color. Sicilian eggplant are lighter in color and quite round.
Why do Italians eat eggplant?
Eggplant has long been a classic ingredient in Italian cuisine. Originally introduced by Arabs traveling to Sicily, Italian farmers embraced eggplants making them a symbolic vegetable of the culture.
What does a Japanese eggplant look like?
Japanese eggplants are elongated and slender, averaging 20 to 25 centimeters in length, and have an oblong to cylindrical shape, tapering slightly at the ends. The eggplants may appear curved or straight and are capped with a green or dark purple stem, depending on the variety.
What does an Indian eggplant look like?
Indian eggplants are small and oval, averaging 5-7 centimeters depending on maturity. This egg-shaped fruit has a glossy, smooth, and medium-thick dark purple outer skin. The inner flesh is firm, crisp, and creamy white with a few, small edible seeds.
Do you peel Italian eggplant before cooking?
Do you have to peel eggplant before you cook it? You don’t. The skin is entirely edible, though with larger eggplants it can be a little tough. If your eggplant is young, tender, and on the small side, the nutrient-rich skin can probably be left on for skillet frying or braising.
What does Chinese eggplant look 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.
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.
How do you take the bitterness out of eggplant?
If you are worried that the eggplant might be bitter, slice or cube it, then salt it liberally and allow it to drain for an hour or so before cooking. Putting salt on the eggplant triggers osmosis, which draws out excess moisture and the bitterness along with it.