September, 2004 - Volume 5, Issue 11



Exploring the Exotic Eggplant



Here at Newcastle Produce, we have a great selection of locally grown fresh eggplant now. And with the Loomis Eggplant Festival coming up soon on October 2 (stop by and say hi at our booth!), we want to help you appreciate and enjoy this healthy and beautiful vegetable.

AN EGGPLANT HISTORY
Eggplants haven’t always been appreciated as they should be. Perhaps it is because they are a member of the Deadly Nightshade family (as is the tomato), and way back when (thousands of years ago), folks thought it might cause insanity.

Eggplant has been cultivated for more than 4,000 years, and is a popular vegetable around the world. Rumor has it that Thomas Jefferson introduced eggplant to the United States in the early 1800s.

The name, “eggplant,” is believed to come from England, where folks were familiar with a white version of this veggie that looked a lot like an egg. But today in England (and other parts of Europe), the eggplant is known as the aubergine.

TAKE YOUR PICK
Here at Newcastle Produce, we have lots of eggplant varieties for you to choose from, and all are grown on Jan and Francis Thompson’s own Twin Brooks Farm in Loomis. Try the Black Bell (perhaps the most familiar variety, it is round and black); Elondo (an Italian eggplant that is black with a teardrop shape and an intense flavor); Listada di Gandia (white with purple stripes) and Rosa Bianca (white with purple blush), both of which are Italian heirlooms; Japanese Millionaire; and Neon (a purple elongated teardrop shape). Jan shares this shopping tip: “The lighter skinned eggplants tend to be milder in flavor than the darker ones,” she says.

ENJOYING EGGPLANT
There are numerous ways to enjoy this summer vegetable. Many people first meet this vegetable when it stars in Eggplant Parmesan, a popular Italian dish featuring fried eggplant baked with tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs. But there are many other tasty ways to enjoy the eggplant.

Try it peeled, sliced, drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, and baked. Grilled eggplant makes a great and unique pizza topping and a delicious addition to sandwiches. If you puree roasted eggplant, you have a healthy and delicious base for spreads and dips (add your favorite herbs and spices). You can even add roasted eggplant chunks to your morning omelette for a delightful culinary surprise.

Stop in soon and pick up some delicious eggplant for your family!