Eggplant which is also known as brinjal, aubergine is an annual herb which easily weigh to 2 pounds depending on how long they’re left to develop and also have an oblong egg just like shape to them. It prefers fertile, rich, well-drained soil and is found growing in tropical and cool temperate climate. Apart from its slightly bitter taste it is found used in several healthy and delicious dishes around the world.
| Name | Eggplant |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Solanum melongena |
| Native | India and China |
| Common/English Name | Aubergine, guinea squash, Brinjal, Eggplant, melongene, Jews’s Apple, garden egg, Mad Apple. |
| Name in Other Languages | Afrikaans : Eiervung Finnish : Aubergiini Laotian : Khua Hleez Nepali : Bhanta Spanish : Berenjena Korean : Kaji Hungarian : Padlizsán Brazil : Berinjela Chinese : Ai Gua Papiamento : Bereheim Turkish : Patlıcan German : Aubergine Czech : Lilek Baklažán Arabic : Al-Baðinjān French : Aubergine Philippines : Talong ( Bikol ) India : Begun Greek : Melitzana Hebrew : Hatzil Danish : Aubergine Thai : Makhua-Chan Burmese : Kayan Trinidad : Meloogen Guinea : Ta-Kobo Portugal : Beringela Senegal : Bādinjān ( Arabic ) Iran : Bâdenjân Swahili : Mbilingani Japanese : Daimaru Nasu Bulgarian : Patladzsan Malaysia : Terong Polish : Bakłażan Dutch : Aubergine Slovencina : Baklažán Vietnamese : Cà Bat Romanian : Patlagea Vanata Croatian : Patlidžan Russian : Baklažan Slovašcina : Jajčevec French Guiana : Aubergine Catalan : Albergínia Surinam : Aubergine Italy : Maranziana Swedish : Äggört Persian : Bâdinjân |
| Plant Growth Habit | Annual herb to short-lived perennial sub-shrub |
| Growing Climate | Tropical and cool temperate climate thrives in full sun and ample water. |
| Soil | Fertile, rich, well-drained soil, and abhors waterlogged and strongly acidic soils. |
| Plant Size | 40 to 150 cm (16 to 59 in) tall |
| Root | Long taproot |
| Stem | Stem is often non-woody, spiny and pubescent with stellate hairs. |
| Leaf | Alternate, simple, large, coarsely lobed leaves that are 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in) broad. |
| Flower | Large, violet coloured and solitary or in clusters of two or more. Flowers are star-shaped, light purple in colour and have short stalks, 5 stamens attached to the corolla tube and a single superior ovary. |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Depressed globose to ellipsoid, globose, ovoid, obvoid, elongate or even serpentine berry, 2–35 cm long (sometimes longer), 2–20 cm broad, smoothness and shininess variable and many seeded. |
| Fruit Color | White, green, yellow, purple, pale violet-purple hues to black, sometimes netted (variegated) or streaked, when ripe |
| Fruit Skin | Thin, smooth, glossy skin |
| Flesh Color | White color pulp with numerous centrally arranged small, soft seeds. |
| Flavor/Aroma | Bland sort of flavor |
| Fruit Taste | Slightly bitter taste. |
| Seed | Lenticular to reniform, flattened, pale brown, 2.8–3.9 × 2.5–3.5 mm. |
| Varieties/Types | Chinese Eggplant, Chinese Round Mauve Eggplant, Indian Eggplant & Indian Paint Eggplant, Sicilian Eggplant, African Garden Eggs, Thai Eggplant, Japanese Eggplant, Pingtung Long Eggplant, White Eggplant, Pea Eggplant, Italian Eggplant, Black Beauty Eggplant, Pusa Purple Long, Arka Navneet, Pusa Barsati, Manjri Gota, Arka Kusmukar, Vaishali, Arka Sheel, Pusa Ankur, Pusa Kranti, Pusa Purple Cluster |
| Major Nutrition | Manganese, Mn 0.19 mg (8.26%) Copper, Cu 0.066 mg (7.33%) Total dietary Fiber 2.5 g (6.58%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.069 mg (5.31%) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 0.23 mg (4.60%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 18 µg (4.50%) Potassium, K 188 mg (4.00%) Carbohydrate 4.82 g (3.71%) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 0.532 mg (3.33%) Phosphorus, P 20 mg (2.86%) |
| Health Benefits |
|
| Calories in 1cup (82 gm) | 20 Kcal |