Minden eggplant 民田茄子

In Tsuruoka’s rural areas, there is a tradition of cultivating small, round eggplants with firm flesh. These eggplants are often referred to as “Minden nasu,” and they are known for their excellent texture. It is said that the first eggplant mentioned in Matsuo Basho’s “Oku no Hosomichi” (“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”) was the “Minden nasu” (known as “Sotonaito-jima Nasu” at the time), suggesting its historical significance in the region.

The minden eggplant is commonly eaten as tsukemono, pickled in a mustard cream (karashizuke 辛子漬け) or in salt (asazuke 浅漬け).