Simple and Delicious Stir-Fried Eggplant (Gaji Bokkeum)
Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: Flavorful Stir-Fried Eggplant
Eggplant is an affordable and highly nutritious vegetable with a wide variety of culinary uses. Among them, stir-frying seems to be the simplest and most delicious method. When sautéed with sweet onions, it develops a wonderful savory flavor. This recipe is perfect as a side dish for any meal or even as a satisfying appetizer.
Main Ingredients- 2 eggplants
- 1/4 onion
- 10cm green onion (chopped)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare two fresh eggplants. First, slice them diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle 1 tsp of coarse salt over the sliced eggplant and gently toss to coat. Let it sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture. Salting the eggplant before cooking helps it absorb less oil, resulting in a lighter and tastier dish.
Step 2
Next, prepare the aromatics and vegetables. Finely chop the 10cm piece of green onion to create green onion oil. Thinly slice the 1/4 onion.
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add the chopped green onion and sauté slowly over low heat. It’s important to extract the fragrant essence of the green onion into the oil to create green onion oil.
Step 4
Once the aroma of the green onion oil rises, add the eggplant slices (after squeezing out excess water) and stir-fry gently. Be careful not to break the eggplant pieces. Continue to stir-fry until the eggplant becomes slightly translucent.
Step 5
When the eggplant is partially cooked, add 1 tsp of minced garlic and stir-fry together to infuse the garlic flavor. The combination of garlic and eggplant creates a richer taste.
Step 6
Now, pour 1 Tbsp of soy sauce around the edges of the pan. Let the soy sauce caramelize slightly as you stir-fry. This will allow the savory flavor to penetrate the eggplant deeply. Stir gently to ensure the soy sauce is evenly distributed.
Step 7
Add the thinly sliced onion and stir-fry with the eggplant until softened. As the onions become translucent and release their sweetness, the overall flavor of the stir-fry will become even more delicious.
Step 8
Finally, add 1/2 to 1 Tbsp of corn syrup for sweetness and a glossy finish. Adjust the amount to your preference. Corn syrup not only adds sweetness but also gives stir-fried dishes an appealing shine. (Note: The photo may appear darker due to soy sauce residue on the spoon, but the actual dish will have a beautiful brown hue!)
Step 9
Just before turning off the heat, stir in 1/2 tsp of sesame oil and 1 tsp of toasted sesame seeds. A final toss will complete this flavorful stir-fried eggplant dish, adding a nutty aroma and delightful texture.
