Embark on a culinary journey to Thailand and discover the vibrant flavors of Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil. This delectable dish tantalizes the taste buds with its perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy notes. Tender eggplant slices are coated in a crispy batter and fried until golden brown, creating an irresistible texture that pairs perfectly with the aromatic basil sauce. The sauce is a symphony of flavors, combining the earthiness of basil, the tanginess of tamarind, the sweetness of palm sugar, and the heat of chili peppers. This dish is not only a feast for the senses but also a healthy choice, as eggplant is packed with antioxidants and essential vitamins. Whether you're a seasoned Thai food enthusiast or new to the cuisine, this recipe will guide you through the process of creating this authentic and flavorful dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.
In addition to the classic Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil, the article also offers variations to cater to different preferences and dietary restrictions. For those who prefer a vegan option, there's a detailed recipe for Vegan Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil, which uses tofu instead of eggs in the batter. For those who like their food a bit spicier, there's a recipe for Spicy Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil, which amps up the heat with additional chili peppers. And for those who want to enjoy the flavors of Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil without the deep-frying process, there's a recipe for Air Fryer Thai Fried Eggplant with Basil, which uses an air fryer to achieve a healthier and equally delicious version of the dish.
THAI BASIL EGGPLANT
Basil is my favorite herb and maybe a reason I love Thai food so much. The soups, curries, and stir-fries taste amazingly different with just few handfuls of sweet basil. This recipe is super easy and cooks in very little time. Serve with freshly cooked jasmine or basmati rice.
Provided by ChiBites
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Eggplant
Time 25m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add chile and garlic; cook and stir until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add eggplants to the fragrant garlic oil. Stir in water and cover. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until eggplants soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Uncover and stir in soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Stir well and continue cooking until all the water has evaporated and eggplant is coated with sauce, about 5 minutes. Add basil leaves and stir once; remove from heat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 156.8 calories, Carbohydrate 31.9 g, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 17.6 g, Protein 6.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 241 mg, Sugar 13.1 g
THAI FRIED EGGPLANT WITH BASIL
Categories Vegetable Stir-Fry Vegetarian
Yield Makes 3 main servings, or 6 side servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix fish sauce, soy, water and brown sugar; set aside. Heat wok on medium-high heat. Add 2tbsp oil, and eggplants. Fry for 2 minutes on either side, or until they begin to brown and turn soft. Remove from wok. Add 1 tbsp oil to wok. Add onions, and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until soft and glossy. Remove from wok. Heat remaining oil. Add garlic and chiles, and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sliced pepers and onions; fry for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Return eggplant to the wok, and toss to combine. Add sauce to the wok, stirring for 1 minute. Toss in basil. Add corn starch, cooking until the sauce becomes thick and coats the vegetables. Serve immediately over hot rice.
STIR-FRIED CHICKEN AND EGGPLANT WITH THAI BASIL
This dish, inspired by a large bunch of Thai basil that a friend brought me from his garden, has Thai overtones.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, poultry, main course
Time 1h
Yield Serves four
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Salt the eggplant generously and leave in a colander to sweat for 15 to 30 minutes, while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Rinse and drain on a clean kitchen towel.
- Place the garlic in a mortar with 1/4 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste. Add the ginger and chiles, and continue to mash with the garlic. In another small bowl, mix together the fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat a large, heavy skillet or wok over high heat, until a drop of water evaporates immediately upon contact. Add 1 tablespoon oil, turn the heat down to medium-high, and add the garlic paste. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and add the chicken. Stir-fry for three to four minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and no traces of pink remain. Transfer from the pan or wok to a plate or bowl.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the eggplant. Cook, stirring, until the eggplant is lightly browned and almost cooked through, about 10 minutes. Stir the chicken back into the pan, and add the fish and soy sauce mixture. Add 1/4 cup water, cover the wok or pan, turn the heat down to medium and steam for five minutes. Uncover, and stir in the basil leaves. Stir for 30 seconds to a minute, remove from the heat and serve with rice.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 210, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 541 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
THAI BASIL EGGPLANT
Make and share this Thai Basil Eggplant recipe from Food.com.
Provided by HelenG
Categories Vegetable
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Peel eggplant if desired (I don't). Cut into irregular shapes but same sizes. That makes them easier to turn and keeps them from sticking to the pan.
- Heat wok over med-high heat. Add oil, peppers and garlic. Cook until garlic becomes lightly browned, 1-2 minutes.
- Add eggplant and stir. Add 1/2 cup water cover and simmer 5 minutes, until eggplant has soaked up most of the water and becomes translucent. You may need to add more water as it cooks.
- Add fish sauce and sugar. Stir gently. Turn off the heat and add the basil stir gently.
- Serve immediately.
- Really good with jasmine rice :O.
Tips:
- Choose small to medium-sized eggplants for this recipe, as larger ones may be more bitter.
- To prevent the eggplants from absorbing too much oil, slice them thinly and fry them in batches.
- If you don't have a wok, you can use a large skillet or frying pan.
- To make the dish vegan, you can omit the shrimp paste and fish sauce and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Serve the fried eggplant with steamed rice, noodles, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
Thai fried eggplant with basil is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. The combination of crispy eggplant, savory shrimp paste, and fragrant basil is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook eggplant, give this recipe a try!
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