Oval, round, purple, striped and almost white, big and small, all are eggplants! This annual plant with edible fruit in cooking is considered a vegetable, but botanists insist that this is a berry. They are, indeed, different in shape and size, and color. Lots of eggplants vary from 30 gr. up to 2 kg.
Season
In our region, the eggplant season in the open field begins from the second half of July until the end of September. You can enjoy dishes from them. The rest of the time on supermarket shelves are accessible to us greenhouse eggplants.
How to choose a good eggplant
- It is necessary to choose the young fruit of medium size.
- The surface must be free of any damage and cracks, and putrid or dark spots.
- The fruit should be a firm, bright color, the stalk green.
- Do not take a shriveled, dull eggplant, as well as those who have a dried-out stalk, the more likely the fruit is already overripe and overripe fruit is not recommended for use.
Useful properties
Eggplant is brain food! Located in the eggplant skin, the substance nasunin protects nerve cells and has powerful antioxidant properties so that the eggplant can be used as a preventive measure against cancer and the brain’s additional power.
Due to potassium’s content, eating eggplant, a positive effect on the heart’s activity, especially they are older adults and those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
These fruits are a great break down fats, promote weight loss, and well maintain the acid-alkaline balance in the body.
They are suitable to prevent diseases of the liver and kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
Potassium in the fruit normalizes water metabolism in the body, improves the heart muscle, and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.
Eggplant is low in calories, so it is a good choice for the diets.
How to use eggplant
Almost in any cuisine in the world, you will find dishes of eggplant. They are loved by many people and has found wide application in cooking. They are boiled, fried, baked, stewed, stuffed, cooked on the grill, and marinated. Speaking about sweets – the nice jams and dried fruit can be cooked out of them.
For more about eggplant health benefits and harms, read our big article: