Eggplant...

Did you realize that eggplant is native to southern India and Sri Lanka? It surprised me to learn that it's part of the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and chili peppers. Like all other edible members of the nightshade family, the eggplant is the fruit.

Interestingly, like tobacco, eggplant and other nightshade plants contain nicotine, though to a lesser extent than tobacco.

Be aware if you like eggplant, tomatoes, and other members of the nightshade family, they may worsen the symptoms of arthritis.

According to a 5th century Chinese scroll, fashionable Chinese women used to make a dye out of the skin of purple eggplants and polish their teeth with it until they were a shiny gray. I'm pretty certain that would not be a look to go for these days.

The act of salting and rinsing eggplant to reduce bitterness is called "degorging." An old practice, it's not as necessary these days because modern eggplants are less bitter. Salting eggplant will reduce the amount of oil absorbed in cooking.