Crispy & Tender Eggplant Fritters
Super Easy Crispy Eggplant Fritters (겉바속촉) with Savory Dipping Sauce by Ryu Soo-young
As the gentle breeze of autumn begins to blow, signaling the approach of Chuseok, it’s time for heartwarming dishes. For many, the holiday means preparing festive foods, which can be a lot of work. This year, why not involve your husband in the fun? Ryu Soo-young presents a wonderfully simple recipe for eggplant fritters that are incredibly crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside (‘geot-ba-sok-chok’). The best part? It only costs about 1,000 won for the ingredients! This ‘1,000 won recipe’ is perfect for creating joyful holiday memories together. Let’s dive into this easy-to-follow recipe and its perfect dipping sauce companion!
Main Ingredients- 2 Eggplants
- 150ml Cold Water
- 7 Tbsp Flour Mix for Frying (Buchim Garu)
- 2 Pinches Salt
- Vegetable Oil, for frying
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the 2 eggplants thoroughly and pat them dry. Slice them diagonally into approximately 0.5cm thick pieces. Adjust the thickness based on the size of your eggplants.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine 150ml of cold water with 7 tablespoons of frying flour mix and 2 pinches of salt. Whisk until you achieve a batter consistency similar to plain yogurt. Don’t worry if there are small lumps of unmixed flour; these will actually help create extra crispiness when frying!
Step 3
Preheat a frying pan over medium-low heat. Pour a generous amount of vegetable oil, enough to generously coat the entire bottom of the pan. Ample oil is key for achieving evenly golden and crispy fritters without burning.
Step 4
Dip each eggplant slice into the batter, ensuring it’s well-coated on both sides. Carefully place the battered eggplant slices onto the preheated pan. Fry over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Crucial tip: Do not flip the fritters for the first 2 minutes on each side. This ensures they hold their shape and develop a beautiful crispness.
Step 5
Let’s prepare the special dipping sauce to enhance the flavor of your eggplant fritters. In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of vinegar for a tangy kick, and 1 tablespoon of sugar for sweetness. Add 1/3 teaspoon of minced ginger for aroma, a handful of chopped green onions, and half a finely chopped chili pepper for a touch of heat. Stir everything together until well combined for a flavorful dipping sauce.
Step 6
Serve the perfectly crispy eggplant fritters hot, alongside the prepared savory dipping sauce. Enjoy the delightful contrast between the crispy exterior and tender interior of the fritters, perfectly complemented by the sweet, sour, and slightly spicy sauce. This makes for a satisfying and enjoyable dish for the whole family!
