Salted Shrimp & Eggplant Rolls
Eggplant Rice Rolls with Salted Shrimp for a Busy Lunchbox / Salted Shrimp Side Dish
Introducing my unique lunchbox creation: eggplant rolls topped with savory salted shrimp! These rolls combine the freshness of eggplant with a flavorful, low-sodium salted shrimp topping, making them a delightful and refreshing option, especially for summer lunches when appetites tend to wane. It’s a healthy and delicious way to enjoy both vegetables and rice.
Main Ingredients- 2 eggplants
- 3 Tbsp salted shrimp
- 4 Tbsp dried anchovies
- 2 Korean chili peppers (cheongyang)
- 1/4 onion
- 2 servings cooked rice
- A little fresh wasabi
Salted Shrimp Seasoning- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- A little toasted sesame seeds
Stir-fried Anchovies Seasoning- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp water
- 0.5 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup
Eggplant Seasoning- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- A little toasted sesame seeds
Stir-fried Anchovies Seasoning- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp water
- 0.5 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup
Eggplant Seasoning- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing all your ingredients. Wash the eggplants thoroughly and pat them dry. Finely chop the Korean chili peppers and onion.
Step 2
For the chili peppers, remove the stems and seeds, then mince them very finely. Peel and finely dice the onion. Finely chopping the vegetables ensures the seasonings are well distributed and adds a pleasant texture.
Step 3
Rinse the salted shrimp under running water 2-3 times to reduce some of its saltiness. Drain the shrimp well, then finely chop them. In a bowl, combine the chopped salted shrimp, minced chili peppers, and diced onion. Add the red pepper flakes (0.5 Tbsp), sesame oil (1 Tbsp), minced garlic (2 tsp), brown sugar (2 tsp), and a pinch of toasted sesame seeds. Mix everything together well.
Step 4
Thoroughly mix all the seasoning ingredients with the shrimp. This creates a delicious salted shrimp side dish that is also wonderful on its own as a banchan (side dish)!
Step 5
Heat a dry non-stick pan over low heat and toast the dried anchovies for a minute to remove any fishy smell. Add the soy sauce (0.5 Tbsp), water (3 Tbsp), and brown sugar (0.5 Tbsp). Stir-fry for about 1 minute until the liquid slightly reduces. Turn off the heat and stir in the corn syrup (1 Tbsp). Mix well to coat the anchovies. This method makes the anchovies glossy and prevents them from becoming too hard.
Step 6
Add the stir-fried anchovies to the cooked rice. Gently mix them into the rice using a spoon, being careful not to mash the rice grains. Ensure the savory flavor of the anchovies is evenly distributed throughout the rice.
Step 7
Shape the anchovy rice mixture into bite-sized balls. Don’t worry about making them perfectly round; a casual shape is fine. It’s helpful to make them a manageable size so they fit nicely within the eggplant rolls.
Step 8
Slice the eggplants thinly, about 0.5 cm thick. Sprinkle the slices with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper, and let them sit for 5 minutes to season. This step helps draw out moisture and season the eggplant. After 5 minutes, lightly pat the eggplant slices dry with a paper towel. Heat a grill pan (or regular non-stick pan) over medium heat without any oil. Place the eggplant slices on the pan and grill until lightly browned and grill marks appear on both sides. Grilling gives the eggplant a wonderful aroma and appearance.
Step 9
Lay the grilled eggplant slices flat. Spread a thin layer of fresh wasabi evenly over each slice. The subtle heat of the wasabi complements the mild flavor of the eggplant beautifully. Place one anchovy rice ball at one end of each eggplant slice and carefully roll the eggplant around the rice ball, tucking it in securely. Handle the eggplant gently to prevent it from tearing.
Step 10
Finally, generously top the rolled eggplant with the prepared salted shrimp mixture. Your delicious Salted Shrimp & Eggplant Rolls are now complete! They make a wonderful addition to a lunchbox or a light, satisfying meal.
