Mary Allen
The aubergine is also called eggplant. In Austria, they are called Melanzani. Her name comes from French and is also pronounced in German, namely as “Oberschine”. It is a plant species and belongs to the nightshade family. It is therefore related to the tomato and the pepper. Originally it comes from Asia. It was cultivated there more than 4000 years ago. In Europe, the aubergine first appeared in southern Spain.
Aubergines are oblong-oval or also oblong-pear-shaped. In the supermarkets, you can mainly buy dark purple, almost black aubergines. But there are also purple and white striped or completely white aubergines. Most eggplants are six to eight inches long and six to nine inches thick. They weigh between 250 and 300 grams. In Asia, even aubergines are harvested that weigh more than a kilogram.
Aubergines often taste a bit bitter. Therefore, they must first be boiled, baked, or fried and then seasoned. Especially in Turkey, Greece, and Italy people often cook with aubergines. In Italy, they have been used since the 15th century. But aubergine is also becoming increasingly popular in the rest of the world.