Wood Eggplant やきなす

Description: Kizaki Grill Eggplant (豊栄のやきなす) is a traditional heirloom vegetable from Kizaki District in Kita Ward from Niigata City Niigata Prefecture. The District of Kizaki ( 木崎 ) in Japan refers to trees or wood, but the exact meaning is uncertain without further context. In English, "Kizaki" can be translated as "wood", "wood cutting" or "tree", thus its nickname of Wood Eggplant from people who preferred grilling it over Wood. It is reddish-purple and can vary from dark-purple depending on when it is harvested and is known to be one of the most desired eggplants for grilling alongside the popular "Pencil Eggplant". This variety is the defacto Grilled Eggplant that is popular as the best tasting grilled eggplant variety.

Pencil Eggplant Ancestor: In the 1950s, the "pencil eggplant" was introduced from Shirane City (now part of Minami Ward, Niigata City) to the Kizaki area. Farmers in Kizaki selectively cultivated larger specimens for seed collection, leading to the development of the Kizaki Yakinasu variety. Its name, "Yakinasu," derives from its exceptional qualities when grilled, as the flesh becomes firm yet tender, and the skin peels off easily. The eggplant's impressive girth that looks like a tree trunk is sizable and exception
al in flavor. Kita ward had merged other municipalities like Toyosaka (豊栄市, Toyosaka-shi) in April 1, 2007 where many Kizaki Grilled Eggplant was being grown. 

Culinary: When roasted, the flesh becomes tender and sweet, with the skin peeling away effortlessly. This makes it ideal for traditional Japanese dishes such as yakinasu (grilled eggplant). Beyond grilling, its soft flesh lends itself well to various cooking methods, including stir-frying and tempura, making it a versatile ingredient in Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines.