Is Eggplant a Fruit or Vegetable | Health Benefits of Eggplants

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Last Updated: 19.10.2023
Dhruvdeep Singh
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Meet Dhruv, a writer and nature lover from Amritsar, Punjab, who fell in love with gardening during the lockdown. With a B.Tech in Computer Science and over four years of writing experience, he brings a tech-savvy perspective to gardening. Dhruv's articles are a journey into the world of plants, offering exciting adventures for fellow nature enthusiasts.

Is Eggplant a Fruit or Vegetable? If you want to know what exactly ‘Baingan’ is, then continue reading to find out more and also its advantages!

Is Eggplant a Fruit or Vegetable

“Baingan” is one of the staples of Indian kitchens and comes in different shapes. But do you have any idea about – Is Eggplant a Fruit or Vegetable? Let’s find out!

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Is Eggplant Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruits are developed from the flower and usually contain some seeds. Whereas, vegetables can be any part of the plant including the stem, leaves, or roots.

Eggplant is categorized as a fruit since it develops from a flower and contains some seeds. Moreover, eggplant has also been categorized as a berry by some botanists. Nonetheless, eggplant is treated and consumed as a vegetable in India!


 Culinary Uses of Eggplant in India

Thanks to its savory taste, eggplant goes well in many Indian vegetable recipes like stews, stir-fry, curry, and ‘bharta.’ People also mix it with pepper, tomatoes, potato, and onions to make it more nutritious and delicious.

Sprinkling salt on eggplant slices and rinsing it with water mellows down its mild bitter flavor.

Note: The phenolic acid compound present in the eggplant renders it a bitter taste and also makes it brown once cut.


Health Benefits of Eggplants

1. Iron and copper present in eggplant helps in lowering anemia, fatigue, and migraine.

2. The folate compound is beneficial for pregnant women, as it aids in a child’s brain development.

3. As it is low in calories and high in fibers, the fruit is good for people who are on a weight loss journey.

4. Phenolics and anti-oxidants present in eggplant lower the chances of hearts diseases.


Nutritional Facts of Eggplant

Eggplant is an excellent source of multiple minerals like potassium, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin C, K, and B. Moreover, this non-starchy fruit is low in calories but high in soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, both.


Some Rare Side-effects of Eggplant

Eggplant is not good for people with bone ailments, as it contains ‘solanine,’ a calcium inhibitor, and causes minerals imbalance that gives rise to causes joints swelling, joints pain, and inflammation.

It also contains oxalates, and its excessive consumption can cause kidney stones. Since this fruit belongs to the nightshade family, people with hypersensitivity or allergic reactions should avoid it.

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