Melanzane

In introducing eggplant in La Scienza in Cucina a little more than a century ago, Pellegrino Artusi said the vegetable was hard to find in the markets when he was young (the 1830s), and that most people hesitated to try it because it was "Jewish food" - in other words, something foreign. This comment would certainly come as a surprise to most Italians today, and would likely have surprised at least half the population even then: Eggplant was, and is, one of the most prominent staples of Southern Italian cooking.

In partial defense of Artusi one might note that the eggplant was imported from afar and initially used as an ornamental plant whose fruits were viewed with suspicion; Melanzana, the Italian for Eggplant, derives from Mela Insana, or “noxious apple.” Presumably those living in the south began eating it sooner because it grows better there than the north, or perhaps because hunger drove them to try it. In any case, it comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from spherical to cylindrical, and from tiny to enormous. Smaller eggplant tend to be milder in flavor, while larger ones can have bitter overtones, which can be leached out by sprinkling the sliced eggplant with salt and letting it sit for a while in a colander. You will probably want to salt the eggplant in any case to remove some moisture, because eggplants become quite watery otherwise during cooking. In terms of what size to use, this depends upon what you are doing. If the eggplant is sliced or chopped, you can use smaller ones, whereas stuffed eggplant will require larger ones.

The Joy of Cooking notes that eggplant discolors quickly when sliced, unless it is sprinkled or rubbed with lemon juice, and suggests that it be cooked in enamel, glass, or stainless steel to combat this discoloration. It also notes that a pound of eggplant is equivalent to 3 cups diced.

Some Recipes

• Barchette di Melanzane Con Funghi e Salsiccia
  Eggplant boats filled with mushrooms and sausages: A hearty antipasto!
• Eggplant Parmesan With Pasta: Parmigiana con le Paste
  A tasty variation on the Neapolitan classic.
• Eggplant Rollups with Walnuts: Involtini di Melanzana alle Noci
  Quick, easy, and perfect as part of a light luncheon.
  Difficulty: Easy
• Eggplant Stuffed with Cheese: Melanzane Imbottite di Formaggio
  Eggplant work very nicely with cheese, and also with tomatoes.
• Penne alle Melanzane
  Penne with a tasty eggplant sauce, from Lazio.
• Melanzane alla Parmigiana
  One of the finest dishes known to man! An excellent recipe, with several variations; cut into small squares it's an excellent appetizer.
• Melanzane Calabre
  Zesty Calabrian eggplant with garlic and hot pepper, a perfect summer antipasto.
• Melanzane Fredde
  Chilled eggplant, which will work nicely as an antipasto or side dish.
• Melanzane in Carrozza
  Sandwiches made with eggplant and mozzarella, fried -- a Neapolitan classic.
• Melanzane a Scapece
  A refreshing summer eggplant dish that will also be a nice appetizer.
• Mozzarella wrapped in Eggplant, Prosciutto & Cheese
  Tasty morsels that will wow your guests.
• Involtini di Melanzane
  A novel stuffed eggplant dish, seen on TV.
• Spaghetti con le Melanzane
  Pasta with eggplant, a classic Sicilian dish that's amazingly good.
• Melanzane al Funghetto
  Eggplant cooked as one would cook mushrooms -- in other words, stewed, but without tomato.
• Melanzane in Salsa Verde
  Rggplant with salsa verde, a zesty green sauce. Perfect in summer.
• Melanzane Ripiene al Pomodoro
  Stuffed eggplant baked in tomato sauce. Another Neapolitan classic.
• Melanzane al Forno con le Olive
  Eggplant halved and baked with a zesty olive-and-anchovy topping!
• Melanzane in Pirofila
  A simple eggplant dish, in which they are halved and baked with a tasty tomato sauce.
• Milagiane Chjine (j is pronounced like the English ee)
  Delicate stuffed eggplant, Calabrian style.
• Melanzane Sott'Olio
  Eggplant packed in oil with seasonings and herbs.
• Timballo di Spaghetti con le Melanzane
  An unusual pasta pie whose crust is made of eggplant rather than dough. Perfect for the summer months!

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