**Eggplant in Chinese Cuisine: A Culinary Journey of Flavors and Textures**
In the vast culinary landscape of Chinese cuisine, eggplant reigns supreme as a versatile and beloved vegetable. With its distinct umami flavor and soft, spongy texture, eggplant has captured the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide. Our collection of barbecued eggplant recipes offers a tantalizing exploration of this exceptional vegetable, showcasing the diverse culinary techniques and flavors that Chinese cuisine has to offer.
From the smoky and savory Sichuan Eggplant to the tender and garlicky Hunan Eggplant, each recipe promises a unique taste experience. Whether you prefer the bold heat of chili peppers or the subtle sweetness of honey, our recipes cater to a range of palates. And for those seeking a vegetarian option, our Steamed Eggplant with Garlic Sauce offers a symphony of flavors without compromising on satisfaction.
As you embark on this culinary journey, you'll discover the versatility of eggplant as it transforms under different cooking methods. Grilled, stir-fried, or steamed, each recipe highlights the unique characteristics of this remarkable vegetable. Prepare to indulge in a symphony of textures, from the crispy skin of grilled eggplant to the melt-in-your-mouth softness of steamed eggplant.
So, gather your ingredients, fire up your stove or grill, and let's embark on a delightful exploration of barbecued eggplant, Chinese-style. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and experience the culinary wonders that await you!
CHINESE EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC SAUCE (红烧茄子)
The eggplant is grilled until crispy and smoky, and then cooked in a rich savory garlic sauce. This vegan dish is very satisfying, both as a side or a main dish served over rice or noodles.To make the dish gluten-free, use tamari or coconut amino to replace light soy sauce and dark soy sauce.
Provided by Maggie Zhu
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- (Option 1) Place eggplant in a large bowl and add water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon salt, mix well. Place a pot lid on top to keep the eggplant under water for 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
- (Option 2) Spread the sliced eggplant out on a paper towel. Sprinkle Kosher salt on both sides of the eggplant slices. Allow to rest for 45-60 minutes. Pat dry without rinsing.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, mix well.
- Sprinkle eggplant with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and mix by hand, until eggplant is evenly coated with with a thin layer of cornstarch.
- Add 2 tablespoons oil to a big nonstick skillet and heat over medium high heat until hot. Spread eggplant across the bottom of the skillet without overlapping. Cook the eggplant one side at a time until all the surfaces are charred and the eggplant turns soft, 8 to 10 minutes in total. Transfer the eggplants to a plate. If the skillet gets too hot and starts to smoke, turn to medium heat.
- Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil, the ginger and garlic into the same skillet. Stir a few times until fragrant. Add all the eggplant back into the skillet. Mix the sauce again until cornstarch is fully dissolved and pour it over the eggplant. Immediately stir a few times, until the eggplant is evenly coated and the sauce thickens. Transfer everything to a big plate.
- Serve hot as a side or as main over steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 119 g, Calories 122 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1.4 g, Fat 8.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 375 mg, Fiber 3.7 g, Sugar 5.1 g
CHINESE EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC SAUCE
Chinese eggplant with garlic sauce, or "fish fragrant eggplant" (yuxiang qiezi) is a familiar dish in many American Chinese restaurants and buffets but it's also a dish with many authentic variations in China.
Provided by Bill
Categories Vegetables
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Wash the eggplants, cut the ends off and slice them into equal sized pieces. After slicing, separate the green and white portions of the scallions into roughly two piles.
- Over very high heat, heat a tablespoon of oil in your wok. Add half of the eggplant and let it sear until brown on all sides. You can lower the heat if it looks like they're starting to burn. You want to cook the eggplant for about 5 minutes until they start to get soft and have a nice sear. Take this first batch of eggplant out of the pan, heat a second tablespoon of oil, and do the same with your second batch. Set all the cooked eggplant aside on a plate.
- Set the heat to medium high and add the last tablespoon of oil to the wok, along with the ground pork. After the pork has browned, add the ginger and cook for a minute to let it crystalize with the pork. Stir in the whole red chili peppers and the minced garlic, and after a minute, turn the heat back up to high. Add the eggplant back in, along with the stir-fry sauce, the white parts of the scallions, and the shaoxing wine. Stir-fry everything together for another 2 minutes, making sure everything is well-combined.
- Toss in the rest of the scallions and stir-fry for another 20 seconds. Plate and serve immediately with white rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 18 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Sodium 486 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving
GRILLED CHINESE EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC AND GINGER SAUCE RECIPE
I tend to find eggplant either crazy delicious, like these eggplant spirals, or totally off putting. I couldn't quite put my finger on why until I tried out this recipe for Chinese eggplant with a garlic and ginger sauce. I...
Provided by Joshua Bousel
Categories Side Dish
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, rice wine, rice vinegar, honey, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals out evenly. Alternatively, set all the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Bush the eggplant slices with the sesame oil and grill over medium heat until they have softened and the purple color is gone, turning half-way through. Remove to a plate.
- Remove the cooking grate and place your wok directly on top of the coals. Swirl in the canola or peanut oil. If the wok is hot enough, the oil should move quickly around the wok. Add the garlic, ginger, scallions, and chilies. Stir for 10 seconds, until brown and fragrant. Add the eggplant and stir for 1 minute. Stir the sauce and add it to the wok. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until sauce thickens. Remove to a bowl and serve hot or cold.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 151 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 5 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 662 mg, Sugar 10 g, Fat 5 g, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
COLD BARBECUED CHINESE EGGPLANT
Provided by Molly O'Neill
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, quick, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 15m
Yield Eight to 12 appetizer servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a wok or cast-iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Add eggplant and, stirring constantly, cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Using the back of a large slotted spoon, press the eggplant against the side of the pan to squeeze out excess oil. Set the eggplant aside.
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and bean paste. Stir and cook for one minute. Stir in the broth, soy sauce and sugar. Bring the liquid to a boil. Add the eggplant and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the vinegar and sesame oil. Put the eggplant in a large bowl. Set aside to cool. Garnish with minced scallion and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 143, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 528 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
BARBECUED EGGPLANT CHINESE STYLE
Provided by Moira Hodgson
Categories appetizer, side dish
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Slice the eggplant in pieces half an inch thick. If using large purple eggplant, sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for one hour. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Using a wok or large frying pan, brown the sesame seeds over medium heat. Remove and set aside. In a small bowl combine the hoisin and soy sauces, sugar and sherry to make a seasoning sauce.
- Steam the eggplant slices over high heat for five minutes. Remove from steamer and allow to cool. Place on a rack and broil for five minutes on each side. Transfer the eggplant to a preheated flat serving dish and arrange the slices in an overlapping pattern.
- Place the wok or skillet over high heat for about one minute. Add the oil and heat until hot but not smoking. Add the scallions and stir-fry for a few seconds.
- Re-stir the seasoning sauce and add it all at once to the wok; stir-fry for 30 seconds. Pour in the stock and stir another 15 seconds. Pour the sauce over the eggplant slices and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 127, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 502 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
SPICY GRILLED EGGPLANT
This side goes well with any meat you might also be grilling. Thanks to the Cajun seasoning, the zesty eggplant gets more attention than an ordinary veggie. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Brush eggplant slices with oil. Drizzle with lime juice; sprinkle with Cajun seasoning. Let stand 5 minutes. , Grill eggplant, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until tender, 4-5 minutes per side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 88 calories, Fat 7g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 152mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
Tips:
- Selecting the Right Eggplant: Opt for firm, shiny, and heavy eggplants with smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid eggplants with wrinkles or bruises.
- Preparing the Eggplant: Slicing the eggplant into uniform thickness ensures even cooking. Soaking the eggplant in salted water helps remove bitterness and excess moisture.
- Marinating the Eggplant: The marinade infuses flavor and moisture into the eggplant. Use a combination of soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger for a classic Chinese marinade.
- Grilling or Pan-Frying: Grilling imparts a smoky flavor to the eggplant, while pan-frying creates a crispy exterior. Ensure the heat is medium-high to prevent the eggplant from becoming soggy.
- Sauce Options: Enhance the flavor of the eggplant with a variety of sauces. Try a sweet and sour sauce, a spicy Szechuan sauce, or a creamy peanut sauce.
Conclusion:
Barbecued eggplant is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. With its smoky flavor, tender texture, and flavorful marinade, this dish is sure to impress. Experiment with different marinades, grilling techniques, and sauces to create your own unique version of this classic Chinese dish. Whether you prefer the smoky notes of grilled eggplant or the crispy texture of pan-fried eggplant, this recipe offers endless possibilities for culinary exploration and satisfaction.
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