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Eggplant Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to eggplant products
About eggplant
Eggplant belongs to the nightshade plant category, which includes potatoes and tomatoes. It's a tasty vegetable with a controversial history. The controversy was due to the fact that many people believed it to be poisonous, which caused them to avoid it. Fortunately, these beliefs were unfounded, and humans now appreciate eggplant's awesomeness.
Also called aubergine, this plant is very colorful, with options in intense shades of purple, green, white, and red. It's an important ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, which is famous for promoting health. Vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores can conveniently incorporate this food into their diets. You can make many delicious dishes with eggplant, and it tastes great with Greek, Egyptian, and Italian spices and recipes.
Eggplant is very nutritious. Some of its key nutrients include fiber; vitamin C, B6, and B9; beta carotene; choline; and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and manganese. The beta carotene in this vegetable can help your body make vitamin A. Eggplant also contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that could reduce your risk of getting chronic diseases. For example, this veggie has an antioxidant called nasunin that offers several health benefits.
Nasunin in eggplant could prevent the damage free radicals cause to your body. You can also use the skin of purple eggplants as a harmless food colorant and an alternative to artificial food colors. This enables you to avoid allergic reactions and health risks from artificial coloring. As it can reduce the amount of iron in the body through a process called iron chelation therapy, it's a great food option for people whose iron levels are too high. Nasunin is found in an eggplant's peel, leave the peel on your eggplant to obtain it. However, if you have low iron levels, enjoy your eggplant peeled to obtain its other nutrients and avoid its impact on iron.
While scientists are still studying this vegetable, current research clearly demonstrates its health benefits, so eggplant is a great option to incorporate into your diet.
Eggplant has a fresh, mild taste. It also has a spongy texture that absorbs flavors well and makes a great base for your favorite spices, oils, and sauces. Given its supply of nutrients and its versatility, putting this vegetable on your shopping list regularly is a great choice!
You can shop for eggplant and other delicious vegetables from the comfort of your home when you use Instacart. Place your order, and an Instacart shopper will select your items and deliver them the same day, saving you the time you can spend prepping for your meal!
How to pick out eggplant
It's important to work on your veggie selection skills to get the best from your eggplant purchases. When picking this vegetable at a grocery store or inspecting a delivery of an online purchase, use the following tips.
- Buy only enough eggplant for one or two meals unless you're planning on freezing your purchase after blanching or cooking it.
- Consume the eggplant in your crisper within seven days. You can enjoy a fresh, quality veggie at each meal and avoid food waste.
- Choose a vendor you can rely on that can consistently provide you with quality eggplant products.
- Look for signs of discoloration, holes, or other damage on the skin of eggplants. Avoid products that have these issues. Ideally, an eggplant should have vibrant colors, shiny skin, and a firm surface.
Cooking eggplant
Here are a few of the best methods for cooking eggplant:
- Saute it: Sauteing your eggplant in olive oil with accompaniments such as tomatoes and olives can give you a tasty, easy-to-make dish you can enjoy with bread, pasta, or rice.
- Stew it: You can stew your eggplant for a wholesome meal. Wet cooking can be the best way to optimize its antioxidant supply. Try a Greek recipe that combines it with chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots, and green peppers. You can flavor this dish with spices such as oregano, paprika, black pepper, cinnamon, and extra virgin olive oil.
- Roast it: Opt for white eggplant, which may retain its antioxidants better than other varieties during processing, and roast it for a delicious appetizer or main course. For example, you can make a fancy eggplant dip with layers of roasted eggplant, hummus, sauteed tomato and spinach, and cottage cheese.
Eggplant Near Me
Buy your favorite Eggplant online with Instacart. Order White Eggplant, Italian Eggplant, Rosa Bianca Eggplant, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
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FAQs about eggplant
Eggplant is a versatile veggie that you can enjoy in different types of meals. You can place some fried or baked aubergine sections into a baguette on your way to work, enjoy a hearty stew with eggplant and other vegetables during colder weather, or roast this versatile veggie with accompaniments for a celebratory meal. Choose an easy recipe for a tasty snack or a harder one for a special occasion. Basically, you can rely on eggplant in any culinary or social situation.
You can shorten your cooking time for eggplant-based recipes by investing in some meal prep. For example, flavor eggplant sections as necessary, fry or bake them, and store them in your refrigerator. This can give you an ingredient for sandwiches, stir-fries, sauces, or dips while reducing your cooking time.