Stir-Fried Eggplant with Oyster Sauce
Perfect for Kids’ Meals! Seasonal Eggplant Stir-Fry with Oyster Sauce
We’ve thinly sliced fresh, seasonal eggplants and stir-fried them with oyster sauce, a favorite among children. This dish offers a delightful combination of tender eggplant and crisp onion, making it a delicious side dish for any meal or a special addition to your table.
Main Ingredients- 3 eggplants (medium-sized)
- 1 onion (medium-sized)
- 1/2 stalk of green onion
Seasoning- 1 tsp salt (for salting eggplant)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- A little sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp salt (for salting eggplant)
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- A little sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the 3 eggplants thoroughly under running water. Trim off the ends. Slice them lengthwise into about 0.5cm thick strips, then cut these strips again into 0.5cm thick matchsticks. Place the julienned eggplant in a bowl, sprinkle with 1 tsp of salt, and mix well. Let it sit for 10 minutes to salt. After salting, squeeze out the excess water firmly with your hands. This step removes bitterness and improves the texture.
Step 2
While the eggplant is salting, peel and wash the onion. Slice it into strips, similar in thickness to the eggplant matchsticks. Finely chop the green onion. Tip: If you enjoy a bit of spice, you can add 1-2 chopped chili peppers, but omit them if serving to children.
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp of sunflower oil. Add the chopped green onion and 1 tsp of minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. This infuses the oil with the aromatic flavors of garlic and scallion.
Step 4
Add the squeezed eggplant strips and the sliced onion to the pan with the fragrant oil. Pour in 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce and 1 Tbsp of sugar. Stir-fry quickly over high heat, ensuring not to burn the ingredients. Continue stir-frying until the onions become translucent. Tip: You can substitute sugar with corn syrup or rice syrup, but be mindful that they can release more moisture, so adjust the quantity if needed.
Step 5
Once the onions are translucent, turn off the heat. Drizzle in a little sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of sesame seeds. Give it a final mix, and your delicious stir-fried eggplant is ready!
Step 6
This freshly stir-fried eggplant dish offers a wonderful contrast between the tender eggplant and the crisp onion. The oyster sauce base makes it incredibly savory and flavorful, perfect for a quick meal that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s delicious served warm or cold, truly a rice-stealing side dish!
