We can’t say enough good things about these eggplant recipes. Before we get to that, though: Did you know that eggplant is a berry? Yes, it’s a fruit that grows on a short bush with big leaves. The berries hide beneath those leaves, hence the term ‘nightshade.’ The more you know.Now, back to why we love this fruit (!) and these recipes. Eggplant’s peak season runs from late summer to early fall, and there are a number of common varieties like big globe eggplants, long and skinny Japanese eggplants, and fairy tale eggplants, which have beautiful striped skin.