A trivia question for you – is Eggplant a vegetable? Well, it may come as a surprise that the eggplant (also called Brinjal or Aubergine) is botanically classified as a berry (seriously??!), although most of us consider it a vegetable. Yet another health-related trivia: Have you heard of Eggplant Water to reduce high blood pressure? Yes, there’s such a thing. Google it.
Eggplant Water and Blood Pressure?!
Admittedly, this is a scientific fact. Cut up a medium sized eggplant into cubes and immersed in a gallon of filtered water. Drink an ounce of this eggplant water daily. Check your blood pressure before and after. When the eggplant starts to disintegrate, drain the pieces out and discard, but continue to drink this water. After several days, you may need to adjust the frequency of drinking this water. Apparently, the science behind this is that eggplants contain ingredients that affect ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). This is the same enzyme blocked by popular blood pressure drugs. I am no physician, so please do your research before starting this regimen.
Should You Grow Your Own Produce?
A couple of years back I had rented a 30 square foot plot in a community garden. Eggplant was my biggest crop on this plot. I also planted green beans, chili peppers, bell peppers and tomatoes. At one point, I had so much fresh organic produce I had to keep requesting my friends and neighbors to take some. After a point though, I was spending more time pulling out weeds and getting rid of bugs and that wasn’t fun. With all my travel and the long commute to the garden, I had to give it up entirely as it was getting too difficult for me to give more time to the garden. I so wish I had it now, during the current pandemic! It would have saved me trips to the grocery store and more importantly, all the washing I need to do to make sure there are no COVID 19 germs hiding somewhere!
Home Garden
Early this spring I decided to take a shot at attempting a home garden and got myself some seeds and plants. I got some good organic potting soil, fertilizer and bug sprays. Before I knew it, we were under stay at home orders and travel was out of the question, so I started spending a lot of time on my home garden. I planted my favorite Indian Chili Pepper, a dark green, slim pepper which is very popular in India. it is very flavorful and not very hot (the tender ones can be eaten raw!). I also added cilantro, tomatoes, mint and basil. It’s been a few weeks now and they are doing quite well. I used cilantro and peppers from my garden, for this recipe!
From this experience I strongly recommend a home garden for everyone. There is no saying how long the current situation will last. Even if it did not, it is always good to have your own organic herbs and vegetables handy.
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- Grape Tomatoes
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- Cilantro
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- Indian Chili Pepper
Spicy Cilantro Ginger Eggplant Sauté
I cannot believe it has taken me 5 years to publish this recipe, even though it is the first recipe that comes to mind when I think of eggplants. Loaded with cilantro, ginger and hot green chili peppers, this dish is an explosion of flavors! In Telugu language, this dish is called Vankaya Kothimira Kharam – literally translates to ‘Eggplant Cilantro Spice’. Watch the video and see for yourself how easy it is to cook this dish.
Eggplant is a high-fiber, low-calorie food that is rich in nutrients and comes with many potential health benefits. From reducing the risk of heart disease to helping with blood sugar control and weight loss, eggplants are a simple and delicious addition to any healthy diet. Cilantro is a great source of antioxidants. Ginger has antibacterial properties and it also helps fight nausea. Chili peppers are a great source of Vitamin C and also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Check out our other delicious eggplant recipes:
- Eggplant Potato Spicy Medley
- Spicy, Tangy Stuffed Eggplant
- Fresh Fenugreek Eggplant Sauté
- Vegan, Spicy, Baked Eggplant
- Broad Bean Eggplant Sauté
- Roasted Eggplant & Tomato Chutney
- Baingan Bharta
- Baba Ghanoush
- Delish Bell Pepper & Eggplant Sauté!
- Smoky Eggplant Chutney
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Spicy Cilantro Ginger Eggplant Sauté
Ingredients
- 1/2 Pound Eggplant
- 1 Cup Cilantro
- 1 Tablespoon Ginger - Grated
- 3 Peppers Green Chili Pepper - Or to taste
- 1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt - Or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil - Cold Pressed
Instructions
- Cut, wash and drain eggplant. Blend ginger, cilantro and chili peppers into a coarse paste.
- Heat oil in pan, add eggplant. Add salt, mix well.
- Set a lid on. Stir occasionally and set lid back. Cook until eggplant is half cooked.
- Add ginger-cilantro-chili pepper blend, mix well and cook for a few more minutes. You can poke a fork into the eggplant pieces to make sure they are done, while retaining their shape.
- Transfer to a bowl. Serve hot. Goes great with steamed rice, quinoa or rotis.
