What does eggplant taste like? Some people think it is a very strange question, right? Though eggplant is the most common vegetable, some people might not know what eggplant is.
However, people who do not know the eggplant can think “what does eggplant taste like?” it may be somewhat similar to the egg because of its name. If you are thinking so, then you are completely wrong. Eggplant is completely different from egg. We know you are a little bit confused by its name.
Well, in this article we will try to remove all of your confusion and will provide as much information about eggplant.
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Table of Contents
What is eggplant?
Eggplant is the familiar edible fruit that is usually used as a vegetable worldwide. There are various kinds of eggplant found worldwide. They have different colors, sizes, shapes, and tastes. Most of the eggplants are purple in color and have a spongy texture with oval, long, slender, or melon-type size and shape.
This vegetable grows from flowering plants and contains seeds. The seeds of eggplant remain inside and are very small, soft, and edible. Furthermore, eggplants contain a lot of pulps and you will find that it has a creamy consistency when you will cook them.
This vegetable basically comes from the nightshade family Solanaceae which also includes zucchini, okra, potato, and tomato. Eggplants grow from flowers. The color of flowers can be white or pale purple but the stamens are always yellow. The fruits hang from the branches of plants 2 to 4 feet tall like tomatoes or pepper. The leaf is green, large, and broad. In addition, the underside of the leaf is full of hairs.
It has different names on different continents or countries. This fruit is known as “Eggplant” in America, Australia, and Canada. In the UK and Ireland, it is called “Aubergine”. The eggplant is known as “Brinjal” in the Indian subcontinent, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Africa.
What does eggplant taste like?
Eggplant has its unique flavor which is almost like zucchini or summer squash. The taste of eggplant is a combination of sweetness and a slight vegetal bitterness. Most importantly, it can be cooked with different vegetables, fish, meat, and so on. And surprisingly, eggplant is a kind of vegetable that is capable of absorbing the flavor of whatever it is cooked with.
Besides, the raw eggplant has a spongy and firm texture but when it is cooked, braised, fried, or smoked, it will give you a meltingly tender texture.
In addition, the over-aged eggplant has loose skin, and wrinkles and the flesh is bitter enough. But fresh and perfect-aged eggplants have thinner skin, and a low amount of soft seeds, the flesh is tender and that type of eggplant tastes sweet.
Different types of eggplants
There are mainly 11 types of eggplants found in the world. They actually differ from each other in their different taste, colors, sizes, and shapes.
1. Chinese eggplant
Basically, Chinese eggplants are long and thin with lavender-purple skin. They are 18 to 36 inches tall. The flesh is white in color and contains fewer seeds. However, this eggplant has a sweeter taste.
2. Indian eggplant
Indian eggplant’s skin is medium-thick, glossy, smooth, and dark purple in color. They are oval-shaped and smaller in size, only 5 to 7 centimeters. The inner flesh is creamy white, crisp, firm, and contains small-sized edible seeds. It has a mild flavor with a sweet taste
3. Italian eggplant
Italian eggplants are smaller in size, they are only 5 to 8 centimeters long. These smaller globe-sized eggplants are slightly sweet in taste and dark purple in color.
4. Japanese eggplant
Japanese eggplants have various shades of purple from deep to black purple. They are very long, straight, and slender. The length of this eggplant is 20 to 25 centimeters. They have thin skin and a spongy texture with a sweet taste.
5. Fairy tale eggplant
Fairy tale eggplant is cute with its smaller size. They are only 4 inches long. These eggplants have white color combined with purple stripes and they are sweet with no bitterness. Another important thing is, that they have very few seeds inside.
6. American eggplant
American eggplants have a slightly bitter taste. They are oval in shape and 25 centimeters in length and 6-12 centimeters in diameter. The skin is black-purple, glossy, and smooth. But the inner flesh is creamy-colored with so many edible soft seeds.
7. Sicilian eggplant
Sicilian eggplant is basically big and round-shaped eggplant. They are purple in color. This eggplant is the sweetest eggplant among all eggplants.
8. Little green eggplant
This neon-green eggplant has a mild and sweet taste with medium size. This eggplant is 9 to 30 centimeters in length with a globular, oval, or cylindrical shape.
9. Thai eggplant
Thai eggplant has a slightly bitter taste but they are crunchy. They are forest green in color and have small round shapes.
10. Rosa Bianca eggplant
The white-lavender-colored eggplant with no betterness is the Rosa Bianca eggplant. It is a 4-6 inches round-shaped eggplant that has a creamy texture and is rich in nutrition.
11. White eggplant
These eggplants are actually summer eggplants. They are somewhat curved and have an elongated shape which is 10-17 centimeters long. The skin is very smooth and bright white in color. The inner flesh is cream-colored with lots of edible white seeds. The white eggplants have a mild sweet taste.
Furthermore, it contains high amounts of potassium, magnesium, copper, and vitamin B.
Nutrition value & calories of cooked eggplant
Eggplant is a vegetable with high nutritional value but very low calories. 1 cup or 96 grams of cooked eggplant delivers 33.6 kilocalories and fried eggplant contains 142 calories with the following amount of nutrients-
Nutrients | Amount |
Carbohydrate | 5.25g |
sugar | 3.04g |
Fiber | 2.4g |
Magnesium | 10.6mg |
Phosphorus | 14.4mg |
Potassium | 117 mg |
Choline | 8.93mg |
Folate | 13.4mg |
Beta carotene | 21.1mcg |
9 incredible health benefits of eggplants
Eggplants have endless health benefits. You can keep this vegetable on your regular diet chart because you can prepare so many dishes with this. So let’s see 9 amazing health benefits of eggplants.
1. Good source of antioxidants
Eggplants contain high amounts of antioxidants that prevent cell damage. Basically, cell damage is caused by free radicals. Antioxidants protect the body by preventing free radicals production.
Several studies show that eggplants are rich in anthocyanins (Nasunin) which is a pigment type of antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory features and helps to boost the immune system of the body.
Furthermore, the antioxidants of eggplants can prevent various kinds of chronic diseases such as heart diseases and keep you healthy.
2. Help to control diabetes
Fiber enriches food are always helpful to reduce blood sugar. Eggplants are rich in fiber and some studies show that eggplant minimizes sugar absorption and increases insulin secretion in the blood. As a result, diabetes remains under control if you add eggplant to your diet chart.
Also read: Top Food List for Diabetic Diet Type 2 | Benefit in a month.
3. Help to lose weight
Eggplant is a vegetable and almost every vegetable or fruit has a common characteristic. It contains high fiber, vitamins, and minerals with low calories. There is no exception for eggplant. It keeps your stomach full with enough nutrients but delivers a very low calories. So, undoubtedly we can say that it helps to lose weight.
Also read: How to lose weight in a month at home | step by step guideline.
4. May lower the risk of cancer
Eggplants contain anthocyanin, chlorogenic acid, and solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides (SRGs). These are cancer-fighting compounds. Therefore, we can say that eggplant can reduce the risk of cancer.
5. Improve digestion
Are you suffering from indigestion, constipation, or flatulence? Having eggplant on your regular diet chart can solve your digestion problem. Eggplant soothes so many kinds of digestive tissue and increases the absorption ability of nutrition. This vegetable is rich in fiber which helps in promoting bowel movement and preventing constipation. Besides, it helps to secrete enough gastric juices that process food properly. In this way, eggplant improves your digestion and makes your stomach feel happy.
6. Improve bone health
Eggplants are a good source of potassium, calcium, and vitamin K. Potassium and calcium work together to make your bone strong and healthy. In addition, vitamin K helps to bone cell production. Also, it regulates calcium to increase bone density and strength.
Furthermore, eggplants have a large amount of silica. Silica mainly maintains the bone structure and lowers the risk of osteoporosis. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation within the joint of bone.
7. Reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease
LDL cholesterol is very harmful to health. It has a standard level. If this LDL cholesterol crosses the limit of standard value it may affect your heart. Eggplant is a healthy vegetable for the heart and can reduce LDL cholesterol. So, eggplant can lower the risk factor of heart diseases, high blood pressure, and stroke.
8. Improve functions of the brain
Eggplants contain natural plant nutrients. Those phytonutrients can help to regulate blood flow to the brain with enough oxygen. Besides, in our brain, there is a chemical that makes you feel good. That chemical is named serotonin. Scopoletin from the eggplant regulates that chemical and improves our mood by functioning our brain properly. In addition, eggplant contains various kinds of vitamin B which keep our brain free from stress.
9. Improve skin and hair health
Eggplants contain abundant vitamin C and antioxidants. Both compounds together prevent cell damage, wrinkle, fine line, and aging. As a result, you get very younger and have soft skin.
On the other hand, eggplants contain iron, zinc, folate, and potassium. Those minerals increase blood circulation to the scalp which improves your hair health surprisingly.
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The side effect of eggplant
Though eggplant has incredible health benefits, some people face some side effects. Therefore, you should not eat eggplant excessively if you think it has some side effects on you. We are discussing some side effects for your ultimate safety.
- Eggplants contain various kinds of alkaloids. Among them, solanine is a toxic alkaloid that may cause nausea, vomiting, burning in the throat, and heart arrhythmias.
- Some people experience allergic reactions after eating eggplant. General symptoms of an allergic reaction might include hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. The people who have allergic problems, eggplant may lead to life-threatening allergic reactions to them.
- Furthermore, eggplants contain a small number of oxalates that may cause kidney stones.
Conclusion
In the title of What does eggplant taste like we have satisfied you by providing so much information about the eggplant. If you keep yourself healthy and nutritious, add eggplant to your diet chart. Try a new recipe with eggplant, and enjoy your meal with your family. In this respect, you will find that you are experiencing different tastes of eggplant.