Eggplants Category

This is a spongy, mild-tasting vegetable that's meaty yet low in calories. It's never eaten raw, but it can be baked, grilled, or sautéed. The best eggplants are shiny, firm (but not too hard), and heavy for their size, with bright green stems and unbroken skin. Smaller eggplants tend to have fewer bitter seeds, as do "male" ones with round scars at their blossom (non-stem) end. (The scars on "female" eggplants look like dashes.) Freshness is important, so don't store eggplants for very long.

American eggplant

This is the familiar large, dark purple, pear-shaped variety. Choose small or medium-sized eggplants (these have fewer bitter seeds) with healthy-looking green stems that are firm to the touch, but not too hard. Avoid mushy ones. Store them in the refrigerator.

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apple green eggplant

These eggplant resemble green apples, and are mild and sweet. You don't need to peel them.

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Asian eggplants

Include Japanese eggplants and Chinese eggplants, have thinner skins and a more delicate flavor than American eggplants, and not as many of the seeds that tend to make eggplants bitter. They're usually more slender than American eggplants, but they vary in size and shape. They range in color from lavender to pink, green, and white.

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Chinese eggplant

Compared to the familiar American eggplant, Chinese eggplants have thinner skins, a more delicate flavor, and not as many of the seeds that tend to make eggplants bitter.

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dried eggplant

Look for these in Middle Eastern markets.

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Eggplants

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Filipino eggplant Learn more

garden eggs

These are tiny eggplants, the size of an egg or smaller. Their color ranges from white to greenish-yellow.

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green goddess eggplant

This has a very mild flavor.

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Hawaiian eggplant Learn more

Holland eggplant Learn more

Indian eggplant Learn more

Italian eggplant

These are smaller than American eggplants, but they're otherwise very similar.

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Japanese eggplant

Like other Asian eggplants, Japanese eggplants have thin skins, and a sweet, delicate flavor.

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kittely

Kittely is a small round eggplant. It is used in soups and stews.

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pea eggplants

These tiny Thai eggplants are quite bitter. They're sold in clusters and look like large green peas. You can find them fresh in Thai markets, or buy them pickled in jars.

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Rosa Bianca eggplant

This Italian heirloom eggplant has sweet, mild flesh and a creamy texture. They're hard to find, but knowing cooks scoop them up whenever they're in season.

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Sicilian eggplants

These are large with purple stripes. They have thin skins and a subtle flavor.

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Thai eggplant

These golf-ball sized eggplants are more bitter than American eggplants. They come in different colors, but they're usually green with yellow or white striations. They're often used in hot chile or curry dishes. Remove the bitter seeds before using.

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white eggplant

This eggplant comes in different shapes and sizes and, except for the exterior color, is interchangeable with their purple cousins, the American eggplant and the Italian eggplant.

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