Green eggplant

Green eggplants, contrary to popular belief, are not merely underripe ones. The fresh vegetables are a vibrant, lush shade of unmistakable green when completely mature. The inside is fairly dense and spongy in comparison to other varieties, giving them a solid structure that does not quickly get soggy or fragile. This makes them ideal for long-simmering meals or when you want your vegetables to keep some bite.

These Asian eggplants have been developed to be substantially less bitter and fibrous. Greens are a wonderful complement to curries, and they work especially well when coupled with Thai green curry sauce. They're also delicious with tofu, sesame oil, miso, or tempura batter. Green eggplants, like most of the eggplants on this list, can be simply substituted for any other variety stated in a recipe.