Chewy Oyster Sauce Stir-Fried Eggplant Recipe
Super simple oyster sauce fried eggplant recipe using seasonal summer vegetable eggplant! Try making a delicious side dish with preserved eggplant texture.
This is a simple and quick eggplant stir-fry using seasonal summer vegetables. Enjoy a wonderful dish, perfect as a side for rice or as a snack with drinks, where the savory flavor of oyster sauce meets the tender texture of eggplant.
Ingredients for Delicious Oyster Sauce Fried Eggplant
- 2 fresh eggplants
- 1 Tbsp coarse salt (for salting eggplant)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp savory oyster sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- A bit of chopped green onion
- 1 Tbsp aromatic sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the 2 fresh eggplants thoroughly under running water, then slice them into attractive half-moon shapes. Slicing them not too thinly will help maintain a good texture after stir-frying.
Step 2
Place the sliced eggplants in a large bowl and add 1 Tbsp of coarse salt. Mix well to coat the eggplant evenly. The salt effectively draws out moisture, leading to a chewier texture.
Step 3
Let the salted eggplants sit undisturbed for 20 to 30 minutes to salt them. After this time, you will notice water seeping out from the eggplants.
Step 4
Rinse the salted eggplants 2 to 3 times under cold running water to remove the excess salt. Squeeze out the water firmly by hand; this will prevent the dish from becoming watery when stir-fried.
Step 5
Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil and 1 Tbsp of minced garlic in a pan over medium-low heat. Stir gently until a fragrant garlic aroma is released, being careful not to burn the garlic. Infusing this aroma is key.
Step 6
Add the squeezed eggplants to the pan with the fragrant garlic and stir-fry quickly over high heat for about 2 minutes. Continue stir-frying until the eggplant absorbs the oil and becomes slightly translucent.
Step 7
Once the eggplant is somewhat cooked, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce, the secret to its savory flavor, and stir-fry together. The trick is to ensure the oyster sauce evenly coats and penetrates the eggplant.
Step 8
Now, add 0.5 Tbsp of sugar to enhance the sweetness and stir-fry again until well combined. You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your preference.
Step 9
Taste the eggplant to check the seasoning. If needed, add a little more salt or oyster sauce. Finally, add the chopped green onions and stir-fry briefly to incorporate their fresh aroma.
Step 10
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds to finish. The aromatic sesame oil and crunchy sesame seeds add the perfect final touch.
