THE FOOD LIFE

Eggplant

By | June 10, 2019
Share to printerest
Share to fb
Share to twitter
Share to mail
Share to print

variety of eggplantsEGGPLANTS BY UCKYO - ADOBESTOCK.COM

Also known by its fancier French name, aubergine, the eggplant is a sleeper hit of the summer markets. This hearty, versatile vegetable can be baked, steamed, roasted or fried. Put some in your basket this week.

different kinds of eggplants

TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

You’re already familiar with big, purple globe eggplant you find at the supermarket. But at the farmers’ market, look for the tiny fairytale eggplant, the slender Japanese eggplant, or the striped graffiti eggplant.

eggplant cut into cubes
CUBES BY LEONID NYSHKO - ADOBESTOCK.COM

35

That’s the scant number of calories in one cup of cubed, raw eggplant.

eggplant lasagnaDISH BY MANYAKOTIC - ADOBESTOCK.COM

VEGGIE STAR

In cuisines around the globe, eggplant is a common main ingredient for meatless dishes. Why? Its dense, chewy texture and flavor absorption superpower let it shine on the center of the plate.

142 MILLION
That’s the amount, in pounds, of eggplant grown in the US every year.

grilled eggplant
GRILLED BY MARA ZEMGALIETE - ADOBESTOCK.COM

GRILL IT
Sliced lengthwise and brushed with oil, eggplant is the ideal veggie to grill.

mashed eggplant
DIP BY PHOTOBOX28 - ADOBESTOCK.COM

MASH IT
Move over, hummus. Swap in cooked eggplant instead of chickpeas for a winning dip.

eggplant seedling
SEEDLING BY HEMEROCALLIS-ADOBESTOCK.COM

GROW IT
You don’t need land—eggplant grows well in a pot. Water often and give it lots of sun.

 

Related Stories & Recipes

Summer 2019 Issue

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR   MARKET SEASON   I’M WRITING TO YOU on a Wednesday. In my neighborhood, during the summer that means it’s farmers’ market day. All season, I organize Wednesda...
We will never share your email address with anyone else. See our privacy policy.