Should I peel eggplant?

Keep the skin on whenever possible — the purple pigment nasunin is concentrated there and is one of the most studied compounds in eggplant.

Are eggplants safe for autoimmune conditions?

Eggplants are nightshades and contain trace solanine alkaloids (strong plant compounds that act on the body even in small amounts). Most people tolerate them well, but people with autoimmune flares may experiment with a short elimination to see if symptoms change.

How do I keep eggplant from soaking up oil?

Salt the slices for 20–30 minutes, blot dry, and roast or grill instead of pan-frying. Brushing with olive oil before roasting gives a tender result with a fraction of the oil.

Chapter 1 of 13

Eggplant

The Short Version

Bademjan is a vegetable first — a foundation of Persian cooking.

Roasted or grilled it stays light; fried, it drinks oil.

Persian cooking always pairs it with something cool and sour.

Bademjan is so beloved in Persia it's called the 'potato of Iran.' From kashk-e bademjan to mirza ghasemi to khoresh bademjan, eggplant carries flavor like a sponge — and a long list of antioxidants.

Known to botanists as Solanum melongena.