Chinese Eggplant

Inventory, 10 lbs : 8.53
This item was last sold on : 09/28/22

• 52 Featured Restaurants

• 25 Recipe Ideas

• 27 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.

Farmer and The Seahorse	San Diego CA	619-302-3682
Terra Restaurant	San Diego CA	619-293-7088
Harumama Teriyaki & Bao	Carlsbad CA	760-637-5737
Harumama Sushi & Ramen (Ocean Beach)	San Diego CA	858-886-9909
Pizza Cassette	San Diego CA	802-310-5601
Ballast Point Rest. - Little Italy	San Diego CA	619-298-2337
Waverly	Cardiff CA	619-244-0416
Wolf In the Woods	San Diego CA	619-851-7275
Miho	San Diego CA	619-365-5655
Crown Point Catering	San Diego CA	619-223-1211
Barbusa	San Diego CA	619-297-6333
Harumama Noodles & Buns (Encinitas)	Encinitas CA	858-886-9909
PFC Fitness Camp	Carlsbad CA	888-488-8936
Thai One On	Carlsbad CA	760-500-8674
Callie	San Diego CA	619-947-9036
Swagyu Chop Shop-PB	San Diego CA	858-758-0357
Great Maple La Jolla UTC	San Diego CA	858-886-7403
Blue Ocean La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-999-4073
Continental Catering Inc	La Mesa CA	907-738-9264
Harumama (Little Italy)	San Diego CA	619-269-7122

the other 32...

Harmony Cuisine 2B1	San Diego CA	248-977-7627
Dija Mara 2021	Oceanside CA	760-231-5376
Secret Sister	San Diego CA	619-281-0718
Blue Ocean	Carlsbad CA	760-434-4959
Kappa Sushi	San Diego CA	858-566-3388
Herb & Sea	Encinitas CA	858-587-6601
Artifact at Mingei	San Diego CA	619-846-2164
Under Belly-Uptown	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
Wheat & Water	La Jolla CA	858-291-8690
Hill Top Winery	Valley Center CA	858-405-9314
Herb & Wood	San Diego CA	520-205-1288
Leichtag Foundation	Encinitas CA	760-230-6772
Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.)	San Diego CA	619-962-5935
Oscars Brewing Company	Temecula CA	619-695-2422
Swagyu Chop Shop	Imperial Beach CA	858-822-8377
Tribute Pizza	San Diego CA	858-220-0030
Kettner Exchange	San Diego CA	909-915-9877
Convention Center Shell	San Diego CA	619-954-3063
Ron Oliver	San Diego	619-295-3172
Lucky Bolt	San Diego CA	662-832-3638
Naegi	Oceanside CA	760-717-5899
Hotel Republic San Diego	San Diego CA	951-756-9357
Nolita Hall	San Diego CA	619-618-8820
Rustic Root	San Diego CA	619-232-1747
Born & Raised	San Diego CA	619-944-1631
The Lion Share	San Diego CA	619-564-6924
Under Belly-Little Italy Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
Uncle Italian	San Diego CA	619-629-0676
Mister A's	San Diego CA	619-239-1377
Raki Raki & Co.	San Diego CA	858-573-2400
Wine Vault & Bistro	San Diego CA	619-295-3939
The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar	Oceanside CA	442-266-2781

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Chinese Eggplant. One

is easiest, three is harder.

China Sichuan Food		Chinese Eggplants with Minced Pork
Appetite for China		Sichuan Eggplant
The Woks Of Life		Chinese Stuffed Eggplant
Omnivores Cookbook		Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Daily Cooking Quest		Terong Kecap Pedas - Spicy Sweet Soy Sauce Eggplant
Steamy Kitchen		Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce
The Iron You		Spicy Vegan Chinese Eggplant
I Am A Food Blog		Oven-Roasted Eggplant with Caramelized Miso
I Heart Umami		Paleo Asian Taco Meal Prep Bowls
Super Golden Bakes		Chinese Aubergine Stir Fry with Prawns and Green Peppers

the other 15...

Just Hungry		Country-Style Stewed Eggplant
Cooking LSL		Grilled Eggplant Soba Noodles
Lazy Cat Kitchen		Vegan Katsu Curry
Kitch Me		Hot and Sour Chinese Eggplant
Yay For Food		Vegetarian Pad See Ew with Tofu and Chinese Eggplant
Marta's Plants		Chinese Red Eggplant Hot Dogs with Mustard...
Chocolate Covered Katie		Kung Pao Eggplant
The Bitten Word		Chinese-Style Eggplant
Maangchi		Eggplant Side Dish
Cookbook Archaeology		Pickled Eggplant
Just One Cookbook		Shibazuke Pickles
The Woks Of Life		Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Use Real Butter		Fish Flavored Chinese Eggplant
Viet World Kitchen		Seared Snap Peas, Eggplant and Fermented Tofu
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.