Monday 23 February 2015

Chinese style Eggplant in Sweet and Spicy Sauce...Trimurti!!

Chinese style Eggplant in Sweet and Spicy Saucecompletes the Chinese trilogy...Gong Xi Fa Cai!! J


Eggplant in Sweet and Spicy Garlic Sauce mmskitchenbites




Chinese style Eggplant in Sweet and Spicy Garlic Sauce


Ingredients: 

  • Japanese Eggplants, cut into 3 inch by ½ inch long batons/wedges, 3 (or 1 large round Eggplant)
  • Dried Red chilies, 2-3, broken into 2-3 pieces each, 1-2
  • Fresh Red chili, finely chopped, 1-2
  • Garlic, finely chopped, 3-4 cloves
  • Shaoxing rice wine, 1 ½ tsp (you can substitute with equal amount of vinegar)
  • Vinegar, 1 ½ tsp (preferably Chinese black vinegar, you can substitute with either balsamic vinegar or even regular white vinegar)
  • Soy sauce, 1 tbsp
  • Honey, 1 ½ - 2 tsp or brown sugar
  • Spring onions/Scallions, finely chopped, 1-2, (use both white and green portion)
  • Oil, 2tbsp + ½ tbsp


Instructions:


If using the large round eggplant, sprinkle the batons with salt, mix well and leave to drain in a colander for about half an hour.

Heat a wok or a large pan over high heat. I prefer using a large pan as so that I can cook eggplants in a single layer without tossing around too much. If using a wok or a smaller pan you may have to fry in batches.

Once the pan is hot, pour in 2 tbsp oil and swirl around to coat the base.

Drop in the eggplants and fry for about two minutes on each side – till eggplant is nice and golden and soft without losing its shape – don’t stir or toss around too much. Remove the eggplants and keep aside.

In the same pan, add in ½ tbsp oil. Add in the broken dried red chilies and fry for 4-5 seconds. Add in the garlic and the fresh red chilies (keep some aside for garnishing later)

When the garlic starts to change colour, add in the spring onions (keep a few greens aside for garnishing later).

Sauté for a couple of minutes and add in the Shaoxing rice wine, vinegar, soy sauce and honey/sugar. Mix well and add in the eggplant.

Toss around and let the sauce coat the eggplant well.

Serve immediately topped with the spring onions and red chilies kept aside.


Notes/Options:


  • You can deep fry the eggplant – needless to say deep frying enhances the taste J
  • Add in minced ginger along with the garlic.
  • Skip the honey though it gives a nice glaze and balances the flavor.
  • Use shallots instead of spring onions.
  • Skip the vinegar and Shaoxing wine and use 1 tbsp chili bean paste or black bean paste.
  • Make it saucier by adding some veg or chicken broth along with 1 tsp of corn starch mixed with 1 tbsp of cold water. Add these along with the rest of the sauces. Once everything comes to a boil and the mix thickens up, add in the fried eggplant.

2 comments:

  1. These look amazing. I have gone off eggplant recently but I am thinking I need to get back on board and try this out. That glaze looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love Eggplant and this is just beautiful!! I am going to be looking for Eggplants just so that I can make this

    ReplyDelete