Shoulda made it with beef while you were at it!

Looks good to me, whatever it's not. Don't recall ever having seen mini eggplants like that.

FOAS, the mini eggplants are very interesting, I've never seen them either.

Annie

Oh you're torturing me. Bring some over!!

The mini eggplants are an Asian type. Most of the Hmong growers at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market have them along with a small green one and a small round white one. I've purchased the purple ones that have white speckles. The skin is tender and can be eaten.

Dcarch - another lovely dish!

Annie - I just looked at my Johnny's seed catalog. They have the mini eggplants called Calliope. I think that's what is in Dcarch's photo. The catalog says "high yielding even in the North" just in case you want to try them.

Teresa

Here they are found in Asian markets as well as our regular grocery stores. I have some that are destined to be used in a dish with ground pork and maybe tofu.

These little eggplants are called "Indian Eggplants".

Here is a link that might be useful: Indian Eggplant

Dcarch

I love your twists on the recipes! you are never boring. The dish looks yummy!

Silvia

Thank you everyone.

It was a fun dish to make, each and every ingredient required a different cooking time for best texture and taste.

Chicken - 1 ý hours (sous vided at 143F, still a hint of pink)
Chicken skin - 30 seconds on super heated skillet (crispy like Peking Duck)
Orzo - 30 minutes in pot
Bok Choy - 10 minutes in frying pan
Eggplants - 20 minutes in roaster oven
Mushroom/wine Sauce - 20 minutes simmer in sauce pan

Teresa is right, those are Calliope eggplants, very pretty and creamy, also not as sharp/bitter as regular eggplants. The Indian eggplants are similar, but they are more round in shape and they are bigger, great for stuffing recipes.
I also like another very pretty mini eggplant, Silvia grows them, called Fairytale eggplants.

All mini eggplants can make nice party appetizers. They are bite size and present well.

dcarch

This post was edited by dcarch on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 7:56

I love chicken marsala, I'm sure I would love your version especially presented with such flair.

I roast eggplant a lot, I don't peel them so I'm hoping to find the really small ones that you use.

I've not seen those mini eggplant either. But I have grown the Fairytale eggplant. They're small--I picked them at 4-5'' in length. Very good but even better is that they're a beautiful plant worth growing just for their ornamental value even if you don't like to eat eggplant! Very productive little buggers, also. I'm in Zone 4, Central Wisconsin, and they grew very nicely for me.

Cathy - if you can't find the mini eggplants why don't you try growing them. If you don't have a garden they do extremely well in pots. And as ci_lantro says they are very ornamental.

Every season I try to grow different variety of veggies but few things I always grow like the Orlando eggplant, I love the production, the looks of the plant and the flavor. I can use it in so many dishes. I will also grow this coming season an Indian eggplant Udmalbet.

Orlando eggplant in my garden

Silvia

Thanks Teresa, I'll have to get Silvia to be my mentor or supplier.

This post was edited by mustangs on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 13:16

Cathy, I would love to have you in one of my garden parties! A lot of foodies come,lol. The next one coming up is going to be Saturday April 13 from 11am til...
Garden friends come from all over the state, Tampa has some of my favorite friends.
You can bring hubby or a friend with you, the parties are always fun! And if I have eggplants then, I will make a dish.:)

Dcarch, if you are ever in my area, you will be my guest of honor!

Silvia

AnnT, I've seen small ones, the size of a tennis ball or smaller, but never any as small as those dcarch had on the place.

Calliope, huh? I usually just grow eggplant, which we slice or make into bab ganouj. I may have to expand my repertoire.....

Annie

Small eggplants are traditional to southern india. I usually prepare them quartered to the base of the stem but not all the way through, stuffed with a spice mixture of coconut, chana dal, coriander, redchillies, and pan roasted with raw sesame oil. Served with short grain rice or basmati and a mild yogurt tomato side dish.

Whgille- udumalpet is a small town in the southern Indian state of tamilnadu and it is renowned for it veggie farms. Let us know how this does!

Cathy and Annie - the two of you should buy the Calliope seeds from Johnny's seeds. Report back on how they do in Florida and Michigan with step by step photos!

Silvia, thanks for the invite. I do have relatives in Florida who I visit occasionally.

Annie, all Asian eggplants are mild and tender, including the skin, They would be wonderful for making bab ganouj.

dcarch

I've never heard of or seen those mini eggplants, either. I'm going to look for them, and for their seeds.

Great plate, Dcarch.

Sally

Silvia, Seeing your party photos, that is one special invitation!! I am honored and will be in touch.

DC, You had better let us Floridians know where and when you land!

Thanks Sally.

You should definitely try to find some or grow some. A lot of fun to eat.

Try batter deep fried mini eggplants. Just the right size for one mouthful.

I still have a few in the fridge. Going to come up with another dish to make.

dcarch