Cluster Eggplant
Estimated Inventory, 25 lbs : 0
Description/Taste
Cluster eggplants are small and round, about the size of a pea and one centimeter in diameter. These tiny fruits are arranged in clusters of ten to fifteen bunched together in a fashion similar to grapes and as the fruits ripen their thin skin will turn from light green to yellow. The fruits grow on shrubs that can reach up to sixteen feet in height. The stems and leaves of the Cluster eggplant are covered in fine hairs, and small hooked thorns and the flowers of the plant are most often white. Each fruit can contain up to two hundred tiny, flat, brown, and edible seeds. Cluster eggplants range in flavor from bitter to tart when raw, and their texture is exceptionally crunchy. Once cooked they will take on a soft quality and the bitter flavor is minimized.
Seasons/Availability
Cluster eggplants are available year-round with peak season during the summer months.
Current Facts
Cluster eggplant, botanically classified as Solanum torvum, is a loose western term that is given to the fruit of a prickly shrub that grows wild and semi-cultivated. It is one of the only eggplants that are thought to have little relation to the common domesticated eggplant, Solanum melongena. Also known as Pea eggplant, Bunch eggplant, Pea aubergine, Wild eggplant, and Turkey berry, the Cluster eggplant is popularly used as rootstock for growing more traditional eggplants as a way of boosting the heartiness of the root system and decreasing its susceptibility to diseases. Cluster eggplants are vigorous growers and are often seen as an aggressive and problematic species in the Americas and Australia, and in 1983 it was added to the United States federal noxious weed list.
Nutritional Value
Cluster eggplants are an excellent source of iron, calcium, and manganese.
Applications
Cluster eggplants are used in both raw and cooked preparations. When fresh they are popularly used in nam prik kapee, a chili and shrimp paste blend commonly made in Thailand. They can also be pickled, dried, or served raw with dipping sauces. Cluster eggplants can be grilled, braised, added to curries, soups, and stews, or tossed whole or chopped into stir-fries. To cut the bitterness, Cluster eggplants can be boiled briefly before use. Cluster eggplants pair well with mint, turmeric, cumin, cardamom, curry paste, rice, yams, and meats such as poultry and beef. Cluster eggplants will keep up to three days when stored in a cool and dry place.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Cluster eggplants have increased in popularity in Thai cuisine and are often grown in home gardens across Thailand. This plant is valued not only for its fruit, but also for the nutritional and medicinal properties that are found in the fruit, leaves, and roots. In Thailand, the Cluster eggplant is known as Makhua Phuang and is commonly used in curries and chili pastes and is consumed raw, cooked, or dried.
Geography/History
Cluster eggplant is native to South America and Africa and is perhaps the closest relative to the wild eggplant ancestors of Africa. It was then naturalized in the South Pacific, Asia, and Australia and was first introduced to the United States as a potential food crop in 1899 and was naturalized in Florida by 1930. Today Cluster eggplant can be found at farmers markets and specialty grocers in Asia, North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Indonesia, and Australia.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Cluster Eggplant. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Eating Asia |
|
Sambal Hijau with Rimbang |
| Thai Table |
|
Green Curry with Chicken - Gang Kiew Wan Gai |
| David Lebovitz |
|
Thai Green Curry |
