Nutrition

They’re great for fibre so will help to keep you nice and full as well as being rich in Vitamins C, K and many of the B’s.

Shopping Guide

Aubergines can vary in colour but they are typically a deep purple. The skin shouldn’t give when light pressure is applied and they should feel heavy for its size. 

Storage

Store your aubergines in the fridge or a dark cupboard away from direct sunlight for up to six days. Try to keep your aubergines away from moisture by separating it from other produce. 

Preparation

Try halving an aubergine lengthways, rubbing with oil and a little salt and roasting for 30-40 mins, until soft and caramelised. It’s as sweet as aubergine gets! Top the roasted aubergines with sauces, bolognese, cheese, or your favourite toppings. If it’s the bitter taste or texture of the skin that bothers you, try peeling and dicing before roasting. or just scoop out the filling when you’ve roasted the halves.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a younger child, why not try out the process of ‘salting’ aubergine to make them less mushy when they cook? Give them some cubed or sliced aubergine to pop in a colander in the sink and let them sprinkle over some salt. Check in half an hour and see what has happened and how different it looks. Give them some kitchen roll so they can pat it dry, then let them toss it in a bowl with a little oil before you cook it.

For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to teach some essential knife skills. Show them how to use the bridge grip to slice in half lengthways, then use the claw to chop into cubes or slices. If they are feeling keen, you could then let them toss in a little oil and salt and lay on a tray to roast for a yummy side dish or to stir through sauce for pasta.

Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.

Sensory

Aubergine can be great fun to explore through look and touch. If you can, getting a couple of different aubergines (they come in different sizes and colours or patterns) would be a bonus! What colours do you see? What shapes? What does it remind you of? What does it feel like when you hold it? Is it smooth, rough, bumpy, soft, hard? What does it feel like to you? Cut the aubergine in half lengthways and see if it looks and feels different and reminds you of new things.

Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!

Serving

Next time you make a meal that includes aubergines, why not ask your child to help you with one small step in the preparation of the aubergines, then see if they want to help you serve it as “their” meal. Perhaps they could help lay the table and even create a fun centrepiece, maybe with all purple objects to reflect the aubergines?

Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.

Activities

Why not download, cutout and colour-in an aubergine veg facemask?

Kids more into science? Aubergines contain loads of water – you can explore this with the “sweaty aubergine” experiment. Yep, that’s what it’s called! Put two thick slices of aubergine onto two plates. Sprinkle one with 2 teaspoons of salt. Leave it for an hour, then come and check on it. Which one looks “sweaty” and is covered in water droplets? Keep a video or written record of the experiment and see if you can figure out what has happened. The salt on the outside of the aubergine has drawn the water that is moving in and out of cells to the outside of the plant, making it look “sweaty”! This is why, if you are frying aubergine and want it to be less mushy and more deep in colour and flavour, it is recommended that you pop the cubes or slices into a colander and sprinkle with salt, leaving for half an hour to draw some of the water out, making it release less water when it cooks.

You can find more at-home science fun with veg with our videos from Stefan Gates’ here.

Find loads more free veg-themed crafts here and games here.