Eggplants

There was excitement at the farm this week, with the arrival of our first eggplants of the season! Beautifully glossy, deep purple teardrops appearing on our plants is a sight to behold.

Eggplants are technically a berry, but regarded and prepared as a vegetable for cooking purposes. Eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes are actually related; they all belong to the nightshade family. They come in a variety of other colours besides purple, including green, white, yellow and purple with white stripes. The name ‘eggplant’ was developed in the US, Canada and Australia because the small, oval yellow or white fruit of some varieties resemble eggs. However eggplant is known by a variety of other names elsewhere in the world, such as aubergine.

Eggplant is best stored in a cool place, outside the fridge. If you store it in the fridge for longer than 4 days, it can become bitter. Due to its texture and bulk, eggplant is sometimes used as a meat substitute in vegan and vegetarian cuisines. As it turns brown when exposed to air, it is best to cut it up just before cooking (or coat with a little lemon juice if you need to prep in advance). Salting eggplant (rinsing the salt off before cooking) prevents it absorbing too much oil in the cooking process.

We hope you enjoy receiving some of these beauties in your veg box over the coming weeks… We would love to see your favourite eggplant recipes shared on the Green Connect Fair Food facebook group.

Enjoy!

Emily Henderson
Fair Food and Farm Manager

In your box:

Note: We sometimes need to make changes to what we pack in your veg box based on the quantity or quality of produce that we can harvest and source. If you have any questions about what is in your box, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Did you know?

Kale is a green leafy vegetable that belongs to the brassica family, meaning it’s related to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and more. It’s rich in nutrients and boasts many health benefits.  Kale is versatile and easy to enjoy in a variety of different recipes. It is delicious when paired with fruit and blended into a kale smoothie, or as an addition to soups or omelettes. Or you can toss it with oil and salt and either panfry for an easy side dish or bake at a low temperature for light & crispy chips.

You can find all of our recipes here!