Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a member of the family Solanaceae and is botanically related to tomato, pepper and potato. Eggplants are native to India and China but were introduced to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region by Arabic traders.
What is the description of eggplant?
The standard eggplant is an oval or pear-shaped, glossy, purplish fruit 6 to 9 inches long. Japanese and oriental varieties tend to be elongated and slender with a thinner, more delicate skin. “Ornamental” varieties are edible and tend to produce small, white-skinned, oval-shaped fruit.
What is the importance of eggplants?
Eggplant has antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It’s also high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help cells do a better job of processing sugar if you have diabetes.
What kind of plant is eggplant?
Eggplant, Solanum melongena, is a tropical, herbaceous, perennial plant, closely related to tomato, in the family Solanaceae which is grown for its edible fruit. The plants has a branching stem and simple, long, flat.
What is the economic importance of eggplant?
Eggplant is the fifth most economically important solanaceous crop after potato, tomato, pepper, and tobacco.
Why is it called eggplant?
Those plants flowered and grew small white and oval fruits that looked just like chicken eggs. British gardeners named these “egg-plants” for their attractive appearance on plants they entered in competitions.
Where is eggplant from?
Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on.
Is eggplant good for you to eat?
Eggplants are rich in fiber and antioxidants. A serving of eggplant can provide at least 5% of a person’s daily requirement of fiber, copper, manganese, B-6, and thiamine. It also contains other vitamins and minerals. In addition, eggplants are a source of phenolic compounds that act as antioxidants.
What do eggplants contain?
The vitamin & mineral content of eggplants is quite extensive. They’re a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, thiamine, niacin, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, fiber, folic acid, potassium, and more!
What are the products of eggplant?
Peel and calyx are the main by-products of eggplant.
What is the common name of eggplant?
Solanum melongena (aubergine)
What are the benefits of eggplant leaves?
It is packed with vitamins like vitamin C, K and B6 and an ample amount of potassium, manganese and fiber. Even the leaves and roots of the plant are widely used for treating various infections and to heal wounds.
How do eggplants grow?
Eggplants grow into tall, angular plants, so they should be spaced 24 to 36 inches apart. Improve planting holes by mixing in 2 inches of compost to help hold moisture and fertilizer in the soil. Set plants at the same depth at which they are growing in their containers, and water well before spreading mulch.
Is eggplant a New World food?
As a member of the genus Solanum, it is related to the tomato, chili pepper, and potato, although those are of the New World while the eggplant is of the Old World. Like the tomato, its skin and seeds can be eaten, but, like the potato, it is usually eaten cooked.
Where is most eggplant grown?
New Jersey
Did you know that New Jersey grows about 66 percent of the world’s eggplants? It’s true!
Are there different types of eggplant?
Here are 11 of the most common types of eggplants, and how to cook them.
- Chinese Eggplant. Stieglitz/Getty Images.
- Fairy Tale Eggplant. David Speer/Meredith.
- Globe/American Eggplant. Kindra Clineff/Meredith.
- Graffiti/Zebra/Sicilian Eggplant.
- Indian Eggplant.
- Italian Eggplant.
- 7. Japanese Eggplant.
- Little Green Eggplant.
What does eggplant taste like?
Eggplant has a flavor similar to summer squash or zucchini: tender, mild, and sweet with a slight vegetal bitterness. Eggplant will absorb the flavor of whatever it’s cooked with. Its texture is firm and spongy when raw, and meltingly tender when cooked (especially fried, smoked, or braised).
Is eggplant a super food?
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.
What vegetable family is eggplant?
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 eggplant a herb?
Brinjal or Eggplant is a well-known herbaceous tropical plant belonging to the family Solanaceae.As it is widely used in cooking,many varieties have been developed. It grows up to 1 to 2 meters high.It is a coarse,woody and hairy plant. The leaves are broadly ovate with prickles on them.
Is eggplant a root vegetable?
The answer is–Eggplant is a fruit and also categorized as a berry in botanical terms, as it contains small edible seeds.