Raja Eggplant
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Raja eggplants have a round to egg-like shape topped with a bright green stem and calyx. Easily recognized by their very pale, white skin and size, the Raja eggplant is roughly three inches in diameter. The inner flesh is a creamy white in color and has a very tender texture, much more so than that of traditional eggplant. Raja eggplants offer a mild earthy, sweet and nutty flavor with little to no bitterness.
Current Facts
Raja eggplants are a petite Indian variety eggplant. New to the commercial growing market in 2014, this variety of Solanum melongena is a hearty and productive cousin of the more common Purple eggplant variety. Eggplants including the Raja are members of the Solanaceae family, which includes a several important agricultural crops, including the potato, pepper and tomato.
Nutritional Value
Raja eggplants are an excellent source of dietary fiber which helps to maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the body. Eggplants also offer some B vitamins, niacin and magnesium as well as some phytonutrients.
Applications
The petite size of the Raja eggplant makes it ideal for stuffing. Slice off the top and scoop out the tender flesh; stuff with the chopped flesh, herbs and breadcrumbs or ground meat and other vegetables. Sliced Raja eggplant can be roasted, grilled, sautéed, baked and fried. The stark white skin of the Raja eggplant pairs nicely with other petite purple varieties like Ophelia and Calliope for a color variation. Its meaty flesh makes an ideal substitute for animal proteins. Complementary pairings include grilled and baked fish, roasted meats, lentils, chickpeas, herbs such as basil, cilantro and mint, fresh cheeses such as paneer and ricotta, coconut milk, peppers, tomatoes and potato. To store keep Raja eggplants in a cool dry place until ready to use, for best flavor and texture use within two to three days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The name eggplant comes from European explorers who discovered the fruit growing wild in Asia. Early forms of eggplant had a shape similar to the Raja, rounded to oval resembling that of an egg hence the name.
Geography/History
Raja eggplants are a new variety of petite eggplant, developed in India and released prior to the 2014 growing season. By mid-year 2014, the availability of Raja eggplants was limited to seeds, home growers, and small farms in Southern California. Raja eggplant fruits grow on sturdy, compacts plants which unlike many varieties are spineless and will produce a high yield of petite fruits provided they are grown in a warm to hot climate with full sun exposure. In addition to their rising popularity as a home garden variety Raja eggplants can be found when in season at local farmers markets.
