Chewy and Delicious Stir-Fried Eggplant
A Special Stir-Fried Eggplant Recipe Featuring the Chewy and Crispy Texture of Seasonal Eggplant
Introducing a recipe for chewy and crispy stir-fried eggplant, made with fresh, seasonal eggplant! Even those who dislike the mushy texture of eggplant will find this recipe irresistible. With simple ingredients and an easy cooking process, create a delicious stir-fried eggplant dish that will have you reaching for more. It’s a perfect side dish for any meal, including packed lunches!
Main Ingredients- 2 small eggplants
- 1 small bell pepper
- 1/2 onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
Seasoning- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (or 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (or 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Smaller eggplants work best for this recipe. (Using freshly harvested eggplant from your garden will yield an even tastier result!)
Step 2
Wash the eggplants, trim the stems, and cut them in half lengthwise. Slice the onion into thick strips, and thinly slice the bell pepper (even if it’s not fully colored). (Using colorful bell peppers will make the dish more visually appealing.)
Step 3
Cut the halved eggplants into thick, diagonal slices. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp of coarse sea salt over the sliced eggplant and let it sit for 10 minutes to salt. You’ll notice a lot of moisture being drawn out. (This step reduces the mushiness and enhances the chewy texture of the eggplant.)
Step 4
Gently squeeze the excess water from the salted eggplant, but don’t wring it out too dry. (Over-squeezing can cause the eggplant to absorb too much oil!) Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant slices and stir-fry until they start to soften. Once the eggplant is slightly cooked, add the sliced onion and bell pepper and stir-fry briefly. Add all the seasoning ingredients (fish sauce, minced garlic) and mix quickly. Finally, toss in the sliced red chili pepper, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Stir-fry for another moment, and your deliciously chewy and flavorful stir-fried eggplant is ready!
Step 5
Enjoy this stir-fried eggplant that’s not mushy, but has a satisfying chewiness and a rich, nutty flavor. It’s a universally loved side dish.
Step 6
These two eggplants cooked up so quickly and were devoured in a single meal! I wish more would grow so I could make a larger batch.
Step 7
Adding colorful bell peppers makes the dish visually stunning and even more appetizing.
Step 8
This is a healthy and delicious way to enjoy seasonal summer eggplant – stir-fried to perfection! Making it chewy and flavorful will elevate the experience. Eggplant is also affordable, so you can make plenty. Try making this stir-fried eggplant often this summer!
