Asian Eggplants produce slender fruits of colors from white with purple streaks to the traditional purple black. The skin is typically thinner than the European varieties making it sweeter in flavor and smooth in texture when baked, braised or fried.
What does Ichiban eggplant taste like?
The slim, 10-inch-long, deep purple fruit tastes sweet and mild, making it a perfect choice for grilling and roasting.
How does Ichiban eggplant grow?
Seeds or Seedlings
‘Ichiban’ eggplant is typical of all eggplants in growing well in warm weather, but it produces large numbers of 10-inch-long, dark-purple fruits in 50 to 60 days, unlike standard varieties that can take 70 days or longer. Harvest the eggplants while the outer skin is glossy and not dull in color.
Is Ichiban eggplant a hybrid?
Ichiban. ‘Ichiban’ is a Japanese hybrid that loves hot weather, but will also thrive in cooler climates – and it bears fruit all the way through to the first autumn frost. Its name means “best” in Japanese, and many gardeners agree that this is at the top of their Asian eggplant list!
How is Japanese eggplant different?
Japanese eggplant are slightly smaller than Chinese eggplant and have the same dark purple skin as the American and Italian varieties. Also quick cooking but not as mild as Chinese eggplant, they’re excellent for grilling and broiling, and they stand up to the assertive flavors of garlic, soy, and ginger.
What is the best tasting eggplant?
Sweet, tender, flavorful and creamy, Fairy Tale are simply the best eggplants we’ve ever tasted,” says Taylor. This quick-cooking variety is so delicious that it doesn’t even need to be salted. Taylor suggests slicing them lengthwise, then tossing them into stir-fries or sautés, or skewering them on the grill.
Do you peel Ichiban eggplant?
Ichiban is the most common of the Japanese eggplant varieties. These eggplants have a sweet, mild taste with tender texture and thin skin. Because of the thin skin, you don’t have to peel Japanese eggplant before cooking. They produce dark, purple fruit that grows up to 10 inches long.
How do I know when my Ichiban eggplant is ripe?
To know for sure your eggplant is ready, harvest one and cut it open. The skin should be tender and delicate, the flesh firm, and the seeds should be small, pale and tightly packed. In an overripe eggplant, the seeds will be darker, and the flesh around the mature seeds may be looser.
What are the long skinny eggplants called?
Japanese eggplant
Japanese eggplant are long and thin, with a dark, almost black color and glossy appearance. They get very soft and creamy when cooked, and have an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture.
What is millionaire eggplant?
‘Millionaires’ early maturity and voluminous amounts of very slender, nearly black fruit which are virtually without seeds outshine other eggplant varieties by far. This attractive, upright grower will provide much satisfaction and truly enrich your vegetable garden.
How many eggplants do you get per plant?
The standard eggplant produces egg-shaped, glossy, purple-black fruit. ‘Black Beauty’ is the traditional eggplant size. One plant produces 4 to 6 large rounded fruit.
Does Japanese eggplant taste like regular eggplant?
The smaller version of the larger purple skinned eggplant is often called Italian or baby eggplant. These have a somewhat more intense flavor and the flesh is much more tender. The straight thin eggplants known as Japanese or Asian eggplant have thin delicate skins like Italian eggplant but the flesh is sweeter.
Do I need to peel Japanese eggplant?
Japanese eggplant has a thin skin, so it is no need to peel it and you can grill or bake them. It will be soft and pleasant to eat!
Can you substitute regular eggplant for Japanese eggplant?
In most recipes, the different types of eggplant are interchangeable. If you would like to serve a more delicate eggplant than the common type, use the mild-flavored, excellent Chinese and Japanese varieties.
What type of eggplant that is not bitter?
Choose eggplants that are shiny and firm. At this stage, any seeds found inside are still small, so the flesh will not have accumulated the bitter compounds found in eggplants that have become overripe and puckery.
Which is better male or female eggplant?
Source: The Cook’s Thesaurus, by Lori Alden. Despite the ages old, old-wives tale that there are male and female eggplants and the male of the species is better eating – detected because it has an “outie” blossom end as opposed to the female “innie” blossom end – there is no such thing.
Do different types of eggplant taste different?
Some are sweeter than others, or more bitter. You’ll find greener varieties, as well as white. There are varieties with a lot of stripes while others are completely solid in color. The flavor is generally consistent, but there is more range than most people realize.
What is Japanese eggplant called?
Japanese eggplants, botanically classified as Solanum melongena, are slender, purple-hued varieties belonging to the Solanaceae, or nightshade family.
| Main Dish | |
|---|---|
| Holy Cow Vegan | African Peanut Stew with Eggplant and Okra |
| Recipe Tin Eats | Grilled Miso Glazed Japanese Eggplant |
How do you tell if an eggplant is ripe?
Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant’s ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds. They should be clearly visible.
How long do eggplant plants live?
Most eggplant cultivars are grown as annuals and thus live for only a single year. In such cases, the plants die immediately after harvesting the eggplant fruits. Eggplant can be grown as a perennial, in which case it will live for about 3 years but this is uncommon.
Can you eat under ripe eggplant?
The thing is, eggplant won’t ripen off the vine, so there’s nothing to be done if it’s underripe. But here’s another thing: For the most part, the smaller, the better when it comes to flavor. And before it’s picked, eggplant can be ripe enough to eat before it’s fully grown.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.