Originally from India, eggplant spread across the Middle East and Africa. Eggplant was brought by the Spanish to Europe in the 16th century. Today, after tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, eggplant is the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world. There are many varieties of eggplant available in Turkey including white, orange and purple. Turkey is the sixth largest producer of eggplant worldwide.
In Turkey, eggplant is baked, dried, fried, grilled, roasted, stuffed, preserved, pureed and even pickled. Traditional dishes include imambayildi (fried eggplant stuffed with tomato and onion, with olive oil) or karniyarik (fried eggplant stuffed with minced meat).
Jason B Graham
Turkish Cuisine
Produce
Vegetables
Eggplant | Patlıcan