White Eggplants are somewhat curved and ovoid. The outer skin of the vegetable is bright white and smooth and one side of the eggplant is bulging. The inner flesh of the eggplant is cream-colored and dense while the seeds that are inside the vegetable are of white color and edible. These eggplants have a mild and light-sweet flavor.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Order: Solanies
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Solanum
- Species: S. Melongena var. Esculentum
- Binomial name: Solanum Melongena var. Esculentum
White Eggplant Trivia
- In China, a woman as part of her “bride price” must have learned at least twelve eggplant recipes before her wedding day.
- When the eggplant was introduced in Italy, it was believed that anyone crazy enough to eat the “mad apple” would surely go insane.
- More than sixty percent of eggplants are produced in China.
White Eggplant Buying Guide
Just like with regular eggplants, choose the ones that have shiny skin, that are smooth and a bit heavy for their size. To check the matureness of the eggplant, slightly press a finger on the skin. It should live an imprint meaning it is mature. One more tip, choose the smaller eggplants as they tend to be sweeter, less bitter, with fewer seeds and thinner skin.
White Eggplant Production & Farming in Texas
Eggplants in the U.S were only used as an ornamental decoration until around fifty years ago. Even though the white eggplant isn’t that popular, there are perfect circumstances to grow them in Texas. The white eggplants are available during summer months. Even though some other vegetables struggle during summer months, the eggplants will keep producing until fall.
Pesticides:
Eggplants are being sprayed by insecticides. Those insecticides comprise profenofos, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, triazophos, and malathion.
Geography:
White eggplants came from Bangladesh and India. Afterward, they were spread to Asia and Europe by trade routes. Today, these eggplants can be easily found in farmer markets and specialty grocers in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
It’s not difficult to grow these vegetables in Texas. Provide them with sun and you’re pretty much good to go. You should plant the seeds one-quarter of an inch deep. Eggplants require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and around one inch of water weekly. The eggplants are ready to harvest when they’re around 2-6 inches in width.
Packaging:
Eggplants are usually packaged for export individually in PVC stretch film, though people have been complaining about having to take off the stretch before reselling. So there is a solution that includes an unperforated polyethylene lining bag. Using this packaging method means that ten to fifteen eggplants can be placed that were pre-treated with NAA and fungicide.
Enjoying White Eggplants
Make sure the eggplants you have harvested are fresh before using them. The eggplants are creamy and mild with a bit of light-sweet taste. They can be pan-fried, sauteed, deep-fried, baked, or grilled. There are many varieties to the vegetable. The eggplants can pair well with other ingredients like chili, tomatoes, fish, chicken, squash, and many more.
Storage:
The best way to use white eggplants is one day after purchase. Although, they can be stored in the fridge for up to four days before starting to rot. You can also freeze pureed eggplants for up to six months. Another tip is to pour lemon juice over it so it doesn’t lose color.
Cooking:
If you happen to find one of these vegetables, Pan-Fried White Eggplant with Onions is the meal you should look to make.
Cut the eggplants into 3 or 4 thick pieces. Sprinkle the eggplant with a bit of salt before leaving it for around twenty minutes. Heat up the pan before placing the eggplant gently inside. Make sure that they’re cooked for around 5-6 until they’ve started to turn brown. Do this until both sides are a brownish color. While that is cooking, chop onion, and garlic and put it in a food processor with vinegar, lemon juice, basil, and parsley. Add the mixture to cook with the eggplant a little bit before removing it from the pan and serving it.
Nutrition:
Some of the vitamins and minerals that eggplant consists of are Vitamins K, C, and B6, small amounts of potassium, manganese, copper, niacin, and magnesium.
Eggplants also provide some of the health benefits which are healthier bones, reduced cell damage, reduced risk of disease, healthy weight maintenance, and healthy digestion.
When Are White Eggplant in Season in Texas?
To find out when White Eggplant are in season in Texas, please check the seasonal chart below. Why is this important? We are rarely encouraged to think about the physical lengths our food travels before arriving on the market shelves. And all of this travel comes with a hefty environmental cost that is concealed from the consumer’s eye. One of the most salient benefits to eating seasonally is that you are effectively reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more geographically sustainable food economy. Check other fruit and veg that’s in season in Texas now.
