What’s in an Eggplant?
Eggplants are fascinating, aren’t they? But what do we really know about these amazing, vibrant staples to traditional dishes?
Well, for one, they are a great source of folic acid and potassium and some studies say they may be able to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
But here are some really interesting things that you may be surprised to learn about eggplants. We were definitely fascinated!
1. Eggplants aren’t really vegetables. They’re berries. By definition, a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. They have thin coverings and fleshy interiors and the seeds are usually embedded in the flesh of the ovary. A common mislabeling of another fruit is the tomato. Many people mistake them for vegetables but they’re really not!
2. Eggplants and tomatoes are actually related! They both belong to the Nightshade family. Remember Deadly Nightshade? Yep, that’s the one. In reasonable and normal amounts, eggplant is not toxic, however.
3. Eggplants have been found to contain the highest level of nicotine of any vegetable! Not to worry, though. Based on this study you would have to eat between 20 and 40 pounds of eggplant to consume the same amount of nicotine you’d get from smoking one cigarette. Whew!
4. You are eating The King! It is believed that eggplants originated in India where they are considered to be theKing of Vegetables. Who knows what would happen if someone let them in on the fact that they’re actually fruits!
5. The best fact of all: In Renaissance Italy the eggplant was called mala insana or “crazy apple”!
If you want to try a real treat, go ahead and order the Dogfather’s Eggplant Parmesan dish for your next catering event. You won’t be sorry and imagine how popular you’ll be when you share all these fun facts with everyone about the very food you’re eating!