Chinese Eggplant

Inventory, 30 lbs : 0.19
This item was last sold on : 11/27/22

• 52 Featured Restaurants

• 25 Recipe Ideas

• 28 ShareMarket®

Description/Taste

Chinese eggplants are long and thin, averaging 15-20 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in diameter. These fruits can be crooked or straight, and its thin outer skin ranges from violet to bright purple. The inner flesh is cotton white, semi-firm, and nearly seedless. Chinese eggplants have a mild and sweet flavor without the bitterness associated with eggplant.

Seasons/Availability

Chinese eggplant is available year-round.

Current Facts

Chinese eggplant, botanically classified as Solanum melongena, is the name given to hundreds of eggplant varieties that are considered native to or cultivated throughout China and Asia. Also known as Oriental Charm and Pingtung Long, Chinese eggplant inherently has fewer seeds than Western eggplant varieties making them less bitter and meatier. Chinese eggplants are popularly used in stir-fries and will hold its shape when cooked.

Nutritional Value

Chinese eggplants contain rich levels of anthocyanins, a pigment not only responsible for the fruit's deep purple skin coloring but also known for its antioxidant properties. It also contains some manganese, potassium, and vitamin B6.

Applications

Chinese eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as braising, stir-frying, sautéing, and grilling. Their tender flesh cooks quicker than most eggplant varieties, and its flavor and texture will be at its peak when baked. Stir-frying Chinese eggplant is the most popular preparation method as the eggplant has a meaty and flavorful texture. Chinese eggplant holds up well to spicy, sweet, and savory flavors. Complimentary ingredients include cumin, garlic, ginger, cilantro, fermented beans, chilies, soy sauce, vinegar, mushrooms, onions, sesame oil, chicken, pork, chickpeas, lentils, hardy greens, and summer vegetables such as tomatoes and squashes. Chinese eggplant will keep up to one week when stored in a cool and dry place.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

In addition to its culinary attributes, eggplant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The fruits, roots, and leaves of the Chinese eggplant are used to help reduce symptoms in an array of ailments such as toothaches, abscesses, wounds and sores, fever, and intestinal disorders.

Geography/History

Chinese eggplant varieties have historically been referred to as having Indo-Burma and Chinese origins, but there is also evidence as well of early cultivation occurring in India. Eggplant is documented in several botanical manuscripts such as the Qimi Yiaoshu written during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and The Atlas of Plants in Southern China written during the Western Jin Dynasty. Today Chinese eggplant is widely available in farmers markets and specialty grocers in Asia, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Harumama Noodles & Buns (Encinitas)	Encinitas CA	858-886-9909
Harumama (Little Italy)	San Diego CA	619-269-7122
Siamo Napoli	San Diego CA	619-300-4810
Wine Vault & Bistro	San Diego CA	619-295-3939
Under Belly-Little Italy Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
Savory Moment 2021	El Cajon CA	619-633-8863
Ballast Point Rest. - Little Italy	San Diego CA	619-298-2337
Raki Raki (Little Italy)	San Diego CA	858-302-6405
Viejas Casino Hotel Kitchen	Alpine CA	702-401-0455
Ciccia Osteria	San Diego CA	619-674-4069
Blue Ocean	Carlsbad CA	760-434-4959
Harumama Sushi & Ramen (Ocean Beach)	San Diego CA	858-886-9909
Hilton Harbor Island	San Diego CA	619-291-6700
Ron Oliver	San Diego	619-295-3172
Under Belly-Uptown	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
Thai One On	Carlsbad CA	760-500-8674
Wolf In the Woods	San Diego CA	619-851-7275
Naegi	Oceanside CA	760-717-5899
Dija Mara 2021	Oceanside CA	760-231-5376
Pizza Cassette	San Diego CA	802-310-5601

the other 32...

Hotel Republic San Diego	San Diego CA	951-756-9357
Golden Door	San Marcos CA	760-761-4142
Brigantine Imperial Beach	Imperial Beach CA	619-591-1350
Uncle Italian	San Diego CA	619-629-0676
Harmony Cuisine 2B1	San Diego CA	858-737-4777
Dolce Pane & Vino	Del Mar CA	858-832-1518
Herb & Sea	Encinitas CA	858-587-6601
Alila Marea Beach Resort	Encinitas CA	805-539-9719
Great Maple La Jolla UTC	San Diego CA	858-886-7403
PFC Fitness Camp	Carlsbad CA	888-488-8936
Bistro du Marche by Tapenade	La Jolla CA	858-551-7500
Viejas Casino Buffett	Alpine CA	760-845-9931
Oscars Brewing Company	Temecula CA	619-695-2422
The Lion Share	San Diego CA	619-564-6924
Harumama Teriyaki & Bao	Carlsbad CA	760-637-5737
Kettner Exchange	San Diego CA	909-915-9877
Cucina Enoteca	Del Mar CA	619-239-2222
Mesa College	San Diego CA	619-388-2240
Continental Catering Inc	La Mesa CA	907-738-9264
Waverly	Cardiff CA	619-244-0416
Miho	San Diego CA	619-365-5655
The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar	Oceanside CA	442-266-2781
Convention Center Shell	San Diego CA	619-954-3063
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-380-9840
Crown Point Catering	San Diego CA	619-223-1211
The Wild Thyme Company	San Diego CA	858-527-0226
333 Pacific	Oceanside CA	760-433-3333
Blue Ocean La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-999-0323
Mister A's	San Diego CA	619-239-1377
Avant	San Diego CA	858-675-8505
Brigantine Escondido	Escondido CA	760-743-4718
Communal Coffee	San Diego CA	619-305-9525

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Chinese Eggplant. One

is easiest, three is harder.

I Am A Food Blog		Oven-Roasted Eggplant with Caramelized Miso
Chocolate Covered Katie		Kung Pao Eggplant
Use Real Butter		Fish Flavored Chinese Eggplant
Maangchi		Eggplant Side Dish
Cookbook Archaeology		Pickled Eggplant
The Woks Of Life		Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Omnivores Cookbook		Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Marta's Plants		Chinese Red Eggplant Hot Dogs with Mustard...
China Sichuan Food		Chinese Eggplants with Minced Pork
I Heart Umami		Paleo Asian Taco Meal Prep Bowls

the other 15...

Viet World Kitchen		Seared Snap Peas, Eggplant and Fermented Tofu
Appetite for China		Sichuan Eggplant
Lazy Cat Kitchen		Vegan Katsu Curry
The Bitten Word		Chinese-Style Eggplant
Just One Cookbook		Shibazuke Pickles
Kitch Me		Hot and Sour Chinese Eggplant
Just Hungry		Country-Style Stewed Eggplant
Cooking LSL		Grilled Eggplant Soba Noodles
The Iron You		Spicy Vegan Chinese Eggplant
Steamy Kitchen		Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce
Super Golden Bakes		Chinese Aubergine Stir Fry with Prawns and Green Peppers
Yay For Food		Vegetarian Pad See Ew with Tofu and Chinese Eggplant
The Woks Of Life		Chinese Stuffed Eggplant
Daily Cooking Quest		Terong Kecap Pedas - Spicy Sweet Soy Sauce Eggplant
Delightful-Delicious-Delovely		Spicy Vegan Chinese Eggplant

Recently Shared

People have shared Chinese Eggplant using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.