Eggplant

EGGPLANT IS A FRUIT, not a vegetable and is a member of the nightshade family like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.  Eggplant is mostly water, so its nutritional value is limited; however, it’s deep rich purple color (unlike anything else) is created by the presence of a rare anthocyanin called nasunin.  Nasunin has been found to protect cell membranes from oxidative damage.

Here’s some trivia for you:  eggplant is the only thing grown in the Beekman 1802 heritage garden that I don’t like.

WE’RE NOT THAT ADVENTUROUS WHEN IT COMES TO EGGPLANTS. We only grow one standard kind. No particular reason, really. It’s just that it’s one of the last things we plan for the garden, and by then we’ve run out of space. They’re delicious of course. And if we take that extra step of salting them to reduce bitterness before cooking we tend to like them even more.

There’s no excuse for our lack of exoticism when it comes to eggplants. Landreth sells fourteen varieties for goodness sake. From purple, to green, to striped, to white, to orange. We’d love to hear from anyone who is a little more experimental. What kinds are you growing this year? Tell us in the comment section below the lone eggplant photo we took last season. Please. We need inspiration!