White Eggplant: The Ultimate Guide

White eggplant is the milder, creamier, slightly sweeter — and technically older — sibling of classic purple eggplant.

In this ultimate guide, you’ll learn its origin story, how it compares to purple varieties, what it tastes like, and the best ways to play with it in the kitchen. 

Eggplants are members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and are botanically classified as Solanum melongena. Though technically fruits — berries, in fact — eggplants are typically treated as vegetable in cooking. They’re closely related to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Like the tomato, its skin and seeds can be eaten, but, like the potato, it is usually eaten cooked.  

What is White Eggplant?

In 18th-century England, a new plant appeared on the culinary scene. It was white, small and shaped like a chicken or goose egg.... hence the name, eggplant.

The name, originated to describe these pale varieties, endured and came to also encompasses the more common purple varieties as well.  

There are many pale eggplant varieties, white & yellow, from old heirloom ones to much more recently cultivated hybrids. 

Season: Summer
Nutritional Value: white eggplants are high in potassium and also offer some B vitamins, magnesium, and copper. 

A Brief History White Eggplant History 

White eggplants are native to India and Bangladesh, where they continue to grow wild and have been cultivated since ancient times. They were then spread to Asia and Europe via trade routes. 

Today, white eggplants can be found in specialty grocers and farmers markets in Asia, Europe, and the United States. 

Cultivars of White Eggplants 

White eggplant cultivars are much less common than their purple counterparts and are categorically divided into 2 different kinds; the commonly domesticated species and an ornamental species. This post focuses on the domesticated species that we eat. 

The most common cultivators of white domesticated eggplant used for culinary preparations include:

These cultivators, all white skinned eggplants, range in shape and sizes; from a small plump teardrop or roundish shape to thing long ones.   

The white ornamental eggplants are solely used for decoration.

White Eggplant vs Purple Eggplant

Size: in terms of size, white eggplants are generally smaller than purple ones. (Though there are teeny tiny itty bitty cutie purple eggplants too!)

Flesh: white eggplants have white creamy color flesh whereas the flesh of purples ones have a greenish hue. 

Taste: in terms of taste, white eggplants are less bitter, creamier and denser. Their flavor is a bit more delicate and these differences are quite subtle. 

White eggplant is similar enough in taste to purple that they can be interchanged in any recipe.

Is White Eggplant Less Bitter?

Yes — white eggplant is generally less bitter than purple varieties. Yes - white eggplants are generally less bitter, than purple varieties. The flavor is creamier, milder and slightly sweeter. 

Cooking Methods

White eggplants, similar to their purple counterparts, and best enjoyed cooked. They become creamy and milk with a light, sweet flavor. 

Neither the soft seeds nor edible skin needs to be removed. 

Best cooking methods: sautéing, roasting, pan-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, grilling, steaming, barbequing, and baking.

Chef’s Tip: White eggplants cook best with high heat methods. 

More Colorful Produce Guides

If white eggplant caught your eye, you’re not alone — colorful produce is kind of my love language.

Here are a few more vibrant fruits and veggie to explore.

• Purple Kale – the glam, antioxidant-rich version of classic green kale. Learn what makes it purple, its origin story, and the best ways to cook with it.
• Purple Cauliflower - the vibrant, antioxidant-rich, sexier sibling of the classic white. Learn what makes it purple, its origin story, and how to cook it.
• Purple Potatoes – the antioxidant-rich members of the potato family. Learn what makes them purple, where they come from, and best ways to cook them.
• Red Okra – the sexier sibling of classic green okra. Learn where it comes from, what it tastes like, and the best ways to cook with it.
• Pink Apples - stunning pink-fleshed apples. Learn about the varieties and how to cook with them.
• Pink Lemons - the slightly sweeter, more delicate sibling of the classic yellow. Learn their origin story and best ways to use them in the kitchen.
• Pink Pineapple - the engineered lycopene-rich sibling of the classic beta-carotene yellow pineapple.

If ya spot white eggplant, bring it home and play. And I’d love to see — tag me on Instagram, @danielagerson, so I can see your deliciously white eggplant creations.

There’s a whole wide world of veggie colors out there & hope I inspired ya to get your vibrant veggie game on. 

Let's make waves in the kitchen.