Fairy Tale Eggplants are tiny eggplants with tender skin and white stripes. They look like baby eggplants next to full-sized eggplants! These tiny beauties are delicious when grilled and don’t need to be peeled or salted first making them a Farmer’s Market favorite.
Tiny lavender fruits (technically eggplants are fruit) with purple stripes are a favorite for so many reasons. The dainty eggplants don’t have the tough skins of other varieties of eggplants. The flesh is delicious.
Besides the adorable size which could fit in the palm of your hand (about 4 inches in length and 1 inch diameter) and the fresh flavor there are two main things that make these different than regular eggplant.
The delicate skin doesn’t to be peeled and the flesh doesn’t need to be salted to remove bitterness before cooking. This makes them a farmers’ markets prize find. You’ll find them at specialty grocers that have a wide variety of produce or a grocery store like Whole Foods Market.
Our favorite way to cook them is grilling them for a fantastic flavor. They are fast to cook and a great side dish for other grilled dishes. These fairytale eggplants do not become slimy in texture as some eggplant can.
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Recipe Ingredients Notes
Fairy Tale Eggplants. Plan 1-2 of these little eggplants per person. We specified 6 in the recipe to feed 4 but it’s a very flexible recipe. Adjust as needed for the amount being served. Slice fairytale eggplant into 1/2-inch thick slices lengthwise.
Olive oil. This will be used for basting the eggplant for grilling. One to two tablespoons will be used.
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. For seasoning.
How to grill Fairy Tale Eggplant
STEP 1. Heat the grill
Heat the grill to medium heat. Scrape and oil the grates.
STEP 2. Prepare the eggplant
Slice the fairy tale eggplant into 1/2-inch slices lengthwise.
STEP 3. Grill
Brush each side of the eggplant slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Grill on each side about 1-1 1/2 minutes.
NOTE: You will note the color change in the flesh from opaque yellowish-white to a more translucent, watery yellow, and in the purple skin to brown. Do not over grill.
Storing leftovers
The grilled eggplant is best eaten when cooked for best flavor and consistency.
Growing Fairy Tale Eggplant
For home gardeners growing Fairy Tale Eggplant is easy and rewarding. I’ve grown a variety called ‘Twinkle’.
These healthy plants are the fairy tale eggplants from my garden. The plants are no higher than about 12 inches with the plant on the right ready to harvest (eggplant are about 4 inches long). The plant on the left has a bit more to grow with the eggplant being about 2-3 inches in length.
They are great plants for small-space gardens or square foot gardens.
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Recipe
Grilled Fairy Tale Eggplant
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Fairy tale eggplant
- 1-2 tablespoons Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the grill to medium heat. Scrape and oil the grill.
- Cut eggplant in the ½ inch strips lengthwise. Brush each side with olive oil and lightly salt and pepper.
- Grill on each side about 1-1 1/2 minutes. You will note the color change in the flesh from opaque yellowish-white to a more translucent, watery yellow, and in the purple skin to brown. Do not over grill.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published August 22, 2011
Growing.Eggplant.In.Pots says
I grow vegies in pots and this year I tried the Fairy Tale eggplant. I did not know anything about them but they look interesting. I started two plants with seeds and then transplanted them both in the same pot. It is a really big pot, maybe 10 gal or more. Anyway, I am having excellent results. Next year I will probably plant only 1 in each pot; they will probably do even better. By the way, I live in the Houston, Tx area which means it is HOT and either bone dry or flooding.
Boulder Locavore says
I have found almost every vegetable can be grown in pots, even corn! This little eggplant would be perfect thanks to its size! I'm not clear if you've eaten any yet but if not I think you'll be in love. I was not an eggplant eater until finding these gems. If it's any consolation this summer has been completely strange with 100 degree temps here, heat we are completely unaccustomed to coupled with a few weeks of wildfire smoke. Crazy!
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
For the one who asked, yes, they do grow in pots. I have one in a 12″ pot and it's doing very well. They're just so cute and the flowers are really pretty, too. Thanks for the idea to grill them! So far, I've just sauteed them with zucchini and yellow squash.
stampedconcrete says
nice post .. looks so delicious .. yummy !! .. thanks for sharing ..
Lauren says
Easily the cutest eggplants I've ever seen. Thank you to Josie Lee for asking about whether or not they can be grown in pots, too!
tartedujour says
I'm green with envy that these grow in your garden! Beautiful! We love to grill our vegetables as it's so hot here to be turning the oven on all the time.
Lolly @ Lolly's Sweet Treats says
I've never seen fairytale eggplant, but it's beautiful. I love your pictures and what a great summer dish. Yum!
In Katrina's Kitchen says
Beautiful! And tasty!!
claris says
I wanted to add that you can grill Fairytale Eggplant whole. Simply rub olive oil on the skin and stick them on the grill. Turn them 3 or 4 times to get all sides grilled and they will kind of split open. You can simply add salt and pepper or drizzle with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette. The eggplant oozes out of the skin and they are a summer delight!
ps, I love your blog.
Boulder Locavore says
Thanks Claris for that great tip on grilling these eggplant whole (and your kind compliment about my blog!). I will definitely try that! Toni
RavieNomNoms says
Those are so cute! I just love the color and size…
I love that you grilled them, I am a big fan of grilled veggies!