Long prized for its deeply purple, glossy beauty as well as its unique taste and texture, eggplants are now available in markets throughout the year, but they are at their very best from August through October when they are in season.
Eggplants belong to the nightshade family of vegetables, which also includes tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes. They grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. While the different varieties do range slightly in taste and texture, one can generally describe the eggplant as having a pleasantly bitter taste and spongy texture.
- Health Benefits
In addition to featuring a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplant also contains important phytonutrients, many which have antioxidant activity. Phytonutrients contained in eggplant include phenolic compounds, such caffeic and chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids, such as nasunin.
- Eggplant is Rich in Phenolic Antioxidant Compounds
Eggplants are rich sources of phenolic compounds that function as antioxidants. Plants form such compounds to protect themselves against oxidative stress from exposure to the elements, as well as from infection by bacteria and fungi.
The good news concerning eggplant is that the predominant phenolic compound found in all varieties tested is chlorogenic acid, which is one of the most potent free radical scavengers found in plant tissues. Benefits attributed to chlorogenic acid include antimutagenic (anti-cancer), antimicrobial, anti-LDL (bad cholesterol) and antiviral activities.
- Quick and Easy Microwave Eggplant
（Japanese Style Chilled Eggplant Recipe）2 serving
< Ingredients >
2 Japanese Eggplant,
2 Teaspoon of Ponzu Sauce
Some dried bonito
＜Directions＞
- Peel the Eggplant (cut off the stem) and wrap it with cling wrap.
- Microwave for 5 minutes. （500ｗ）
- Put it in iced water for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the wrap and cut the Eggplant into bite-sized pieces.
- Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Serve the Eggplant with ponzu sauce and dried bonito
You can enjoy microwave eggplant plain!
【Reference】http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=22&tname=foodspice
