With their miniature form and gorgeous violet-and-white skin, fairy tale eggplants are just as dreamy they sound.

About the Fairy Tale Eggplant

These tiny fruits aren’t just cute. There’s even more to this specialty variety than meets the eye. It’s also incredibly fruitful and resilient, two big wins for farmers (and we mean that quite literally: the seed has brought home an All-America Selections vegetable award).

As for the cooks? Fairy tale offers a delicious, delicate flavor and delightfully creamy bite. Compared to a large purple Italian eggplant, fairy tell eggplants have a softer more tender skin. Plus, this palm-sized eggplant is a breeze to prep for sautés, stir-fries, grilled dishes and more.

Fairy Tale Eggplant Plant

How to Cook Fairy Tale Eggplant

Of course, all eggplant is a culinary high point of summertime. In its advance from its native South Asia, this nightshade (a relative of potatoes, tomatoes and peppers) has inspired a number of classics across a variety of cuisines. For instance, there’s the Italian classic: cheesy, saucy eggplant parm, in which the eggplant is sliced and breaded. From the middle east, there’s creamy baba ganoush, where eggplant is puréed and combined with lemon and tahini. In France, eggplant gets along beautifully with a medley of other seasonal veggies in ratatouille.

Italian eggplant is the most familiar variety, but there are many others worthy of our attention, like raja, graffiti and—drumroll, please—fairy tale.

Different Types of Eggplants
Say Hay Farm in Yolo County, California

Our Favorite Fairy Tale Eggplant Recipes

Cod & Fairy Tale Eggplants with Tomatoes & Pearl Couscous

A Sicilian favorite, eggplant caponata typically combines the summer vegetable with tomatoes, currants or raisins, capers, nuts, and more.

Cod & Fairy Tale Eggplants with Tomatoes & Pearl Couscous

Quinoa Tabbouleh & Fairy Tale Eggplants

Served with toasty pine nuts, hearty tabbouleh and a zesty Greek yogurt sauce, we think you’ll find this dish, well, enchanting

Quinoa Tabbouleh & Fairy Tale Eggplants with Toasted Pine Nuts & Yogurt Sauce


Summer Vegetable Tostadas with Fairy Tale Eggplant

In this recipe, crunchy, pan-toasted tortillas provide the platform for a wealth of seasonal produce—including creamy eggplant and crisp bell pepper 

Summer Vegetable & Queso Tostadas with Fairy Tale Eggplants & Spicy Crema

Fairy Tale Eggplant & Spinach Flatbreads

To make these satisfying, vegetarian flatbreads, we’re layering on a trio of tasty toppings: creamed spinach, sautéed eggplants and tangy feta cheese.

Fairy Tale Eggplant & Spinach Flatbreads with Warm Green Bean & Tomato Salad

Fairy Tale Eggplant & Mozzarella Pizza

This seasonal pizza showcases melty mozzarella and eggplants.

Fairy Tale Eggplant & Mozzarella Pizza with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes & Summer Squash


Fresh Cavatelli & Spicy Corn with Eggplant

We’re tossing tender cavatelli with creamy mascarpone and a spicy-sweet duo of corn and fresno pepper. For our vibrant side, eggplant gets a pops of flavor from sweet-tart currants, basil, and briny ricotta salata.

Fresh Cavatelli & Spicy Corn with Fairy Tale Eggplants, Currants, & Ricotta Salata