Deutsch: Aubergine / Español: Solanum melongena/ Português: Beringela / Français: Aubergine / Italiano: Solanum melongena
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a species of nightshade commonly known in British English as aubergine and also known as brinjal, brinjal eggplant, melongene, garden egg, or guinea squash. It bears a fruit of the same name (commonly either "eggplant" in American English or "aubergine" in British English) that is widely used in cooking, most notably as an important ingredient in dishes such as moussaka and ratatouille.
In the food context, "eggplant" is a fruit that is commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. Eggplants have a firm, meaty texture and a slightly bitter taste, and are often used in a variety of dishes, including vegetarian and Mediterranean cuisine. Here are some examples of dishes that feature eggplant:
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Eggplant Parmesan: A baked dish made with breaded and fried eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
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Baba ghanoush: A Middle Eastern dip made with roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
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Ratatouille: A French stew made with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.
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Moussaka: A Greek dish made with layers of eggplant, ground beef or lamb, tomato sauce, and cheese.
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Stir-fried eggplant: A popular Chinese dish made with sliced eggplant, garlic, soy sauce, and other seasonings.
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Caponata: A Sicilian dish made with eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes.
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Roasted eggplant: A simple side dish made with sliced eggplant, olive oil, and herbs, roasted until tender and caramelized.
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Eggplant rollatini: A baked dish made with thinly sliced and grilled eggplant rolled around a filling of ricotta cheese, herbs, and tomato sauce.
These are just a few examples of the many different dishes that feature eggplant as an ingredient. Eggplant is a versatile fruit that can be used in many different ways in cooking, from stews and casseroles to dips and spreads. Different varieties of eggplant, such as the smaller Japanese or Italian varieties, may have slightly different textures or flavors, but can be used in similar ways in cooking.