Has anyone heard of this berry (thai - "apen"/"appon") ?

gavmcg92

I was in a thai restaurant tonight where I came across these small green berries in my curry. They tasted lovely but I am unable to find out what they are.

We asked the server who said they were "apen" or "appon" berries. I am not 100% sure. The only way I can describe them is that they were slightly darker than peas and they looked exactly like blueberries.

Does anyone have any idea what the proper name is or where I could find them?

agrif06

gavmcg92 wrote: »

I was in a thai restaurant tonight where I came across these small green berries in my curry. They tasted lovely but I am unable to find out what they are.

We asked the server who said they were "apen" or "appon" berries. I am not 100% sure. The only way I can describe them is that they were slightly darker than peas and they looked exactly like blueberries.

Does anyone have any idea what the proper name is or where I could find them?

Would it have been these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_torvum

gavmcg92

agrif06 wrote: »

Would it have been these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_torvum

Could be... It's hard to tell looking at those photos.

agrif06

gavmcg92 wrote: »

Could be... It's hard to tell looking at those photos.

This is the best pic I could find with google. I've had them in thai curries previously but I don't know where you could get them.

gavmcg92

agrif06 wrote: »

This is the best pic I could find with google. I've had them in thai curries previously but I don't know where you could get them.

and when you had these berries, did you think that the skin was a little tougher than a black berry yet the texture inside them was almost identical?

It was a lovely curry. There was also sprigs of fresh peppercorns like the ones here that gave you a burst of heat when you bit into them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Piper_nigrum_W_IMG_2444.jpg

The Hill Billy

They were probably Baby Egg Plant - a staple veg in thai curries.

gavmcg92

The Hill Billy wrote: »

They were probably Baby Egg Plant - a staple veg in thai curries.

I think that might be it. Can I pick that and the sprigs of fresh peppercorns up in the Asian supermarkets? Would love to try and somewhat replicate the dish.

EDIT : "aypen" is starting to sound more and more like "egg plant" now that I think about it.

The Hill Billy

gavmcg92 wrote: »

"aypen" is starting to sound more and more like "egg plant" now that I think about it.

(Rove you rong time!)

gavmcg92

The Hill Billy wrote: »

(Rove you rong time!)

Ohh god talk about an embarrassing post

Seen as this is a food section... the restaurant in question is Baan Thai. Amazing food, good atmosphere and great service. Definitely worth a visit.

Curry Addict

gavmcg92 wrote: »

Can I pick that and the sprigs of fresh peppercorns up in the Asian supermarkets? Would love to try and somewhat replicate the dish.

Asia market in drury street sell them. they are great in most thai dishes.

Alun

I have had these before and have always known them as pea aubergines.

You also get Thai aubergines which are usually green, about the size of a golf ball or slightly smaller, and don't look much like what we know as an aubergine/eggplant. They're usually quartered when used in Thai dishes and not whole though.

the beer revolu

agrif06 wrote: »

Would it have been these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_torvum

The Hill Billy wrote: »

They were probably Baby Egg Plant - a staple veg in thai curries.

Alun wrote: »

I have had these before and have always known them as pea aubergines.

All the same thing.

gavmcg92

Thanks for all the help.