Few crops earned the affectionate nicknames of gardeners, but eggplants were honored. In ancient times, in India – in its historical homeland, and in other countries, it was considered both a delicacy and a medicine.
The chemical composition of eggplant is not fully understood, but what is already known is enough to recommend using this vegetable as often as possible. Its fruits contain vitamins, pectin substances and minerals. In addition, it is a low-calorie product, and yet it contains substances that normalize fat metabolism and help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. In our age, the fight against excess weight is very useful.
Eggplant is usually eaten in a processed form-fried, stewed or sauerkraut. In the Middle East, there is even a separate culture of cooking from this vegetable. By the way, its fruits are not only blue, but also white, green, and red. Previously, they mostly preferred dark-colored fruits, although now eggplants and other flowers are gradually appearing in the gardens. But this is more of a fashion statement, because the traditional purple eggplant contains more antioxidants, which protect the body from aging.
The shape and taste of the fruit
In late summer and autumn, it is traditionally the time to make vegetable preparations for the winter – and many housewives have eggplant dishes included in the mandatory list of supplies. Of course, it is better to use a crop grown with your own hands, only in this way you can be sure that there is no dangerous “chemistry” in the fruits.
Knowledgeable chefs claim that the best eggplant caviar is obtained from the largest round or pear-shaped fruits. This form is the varieties “Black Beauty” and “Albatross”. You want the eggs to be a little sharper, then you need a kind of “Albatross” , or a more gentle harvest of “Black Beauty”.
For lovers of saute and other dishes in which eggplants need to be cut into rings, we recommend planting varieties with cylindrical or elongated pear-shaped fruits. The choice here is great: from the well-known varieties < strong> “Diamond”, < /strong>to the new selection “Khalif’ and “Samurai sword”. Eggplants “Almaz”, “Galich”, “Black Opal” are excellent in their salt form as part of a vegetable assortment. Thanks to the rich taste, they will not get lost among the neighbors and will give the dishes a special flavor.
The fruits of the new varieties ” Khalif ” and “Samurai Sword” are more delicate in taste. They are good to use as a side dish for meat and fish, as well as to bake on the grill.
In recent years, hybrids have appeared on the market, along with traditional varieties, for example, “Diamond F1”. Of course, hybrids are somewhat more expensive, but they give a richer harvest, contain more vitamins and biologically active substances – so the difference in the price of seeds pays off.
You can take care of buying seeds in advance, because eggplant seeds can germinate normally within 4-5 years. In the assortment you will find both traditional varieties that have long been loved by gardeners, and new products that are already actively gaining their place in the sun. We wish you all excellent harvests and delicious preparations for the winter – and eggplants will help you with this!
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