Stir-Fried Eggplant
Glossy and Chewy Stir-Fried Eggplant Recipe
Introducing a delicious stir-fried eggplant recipe made with seasonal eggplants. Even though this batch of eggplant wasn’t the most perfect-looking, adding spicy Korean green peppers (Ggwari peppers) to the stir-fry doubled the flavor and aroma! It feels like enjoying two dishes at once. The eggplant is glossy on the outside and wonderfully chewy on the inside, making it a perfect side dish that pairs wonderfully with rice. Even those who don’t usually enjoy eggplant will fall in love with this recipe’s unique texture.
Main Ingredients
- 400g Eggplant
- 10 Ggwari Peppers (or similar small, mild green peppers)
- 1 Red Chili Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Perilla Oil
- 0.5 Tbsp Cooking Oil
Salting Eggplant
- 0.5 Tbsp Coarse Sea Salt
Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Oligosaccharide (or honey/corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 0.5 Tbsp Coarse Sea Salt
Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Oligosaccharide (or honey/corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the eggplants thoroughly. If the eggplant skins are thick or not smooth, you can peel them intermittently with a vegetable peeler. This will help achieve a softer and cleaner texture when cooked.
Step 2
Cut the prepared eggplants in half lengthwise, then slice them into thick pieces, about 1cm thick. Sprinkle 0.5 Tbsp of coarse sea salt over the sliced eggplant and let it sit for about 10 minutes to salt. This process draws out excess moisture, preventing the eggplant from becoming mushy when stir-fried and helping to achieve a chewy texture.
Step 3
After salting, rinse the eggplant gently under cold water and squeeze out as much moisture as possible using your hands. Trim the stems off the Ggwari peppers and cut them in half. Slice the red chili pepper diagonally for a nice presentation.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp of perilla oil and 0.5 Tbsp of cooking oil. Mixing perilla oil with cooking oil adds a wonderful nutty flavor, making it more delicious than using only cooking oil. Once the oil is warm, add the sliced eggplant. Instead of stirring immediately, cover the pan for a moment to help the thick eggplant pieces cook through evenly. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
Step 5
Once the eggplant is slightly tender, add 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce and then 0.5 Tbsp of minced garlic. Stir-fry everything together, allowing the oyster sauce to add umami and the garlic to release its fragrant aroma, which will meld beautifully with the eggplant.
Step 6
When the eggplant is almost fully cooked, add the prepared Ggwari peppers and red chili peppers. Stir-fry quickly for just a short time. Overcooking the peppers will make them soft, so a quick stir-fry over high heat is key to maintaining their crisp texture.
Step 7
Finally, add 1 Tbsp of oligosaccharide (or honey/corn syrup) to give the dish a beautiful sheen. The glossy finish makes it look even more appealing. Just before turning off the heat, stir in 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds and 1 Tbsp of sesame oil for a final touch of nutty flavor and aroma.
Step 8
Your delicious, chewy stir-fried eggplant is now complete! This dish is sure to be a hit at your dinner table.
Step 9
Enjoy this flavorful stir-fried eggplant where the satisfyingly chewy texture of the eggplant meets the crispness of the Ggwari peppers. It’s like experiencing two wonderful dishes in one!
Step 10
If you’re someone who usually dislikes the mushy texture of eggplant, try this recipe! You’ll be captivated by the wonderfully chewy texture of this stir-fried eggplant. It’s a highly recommended side dish that the whole family can enjoy!
Step 11
The beautiful purple eggplant flowers, with their contrasting yellow centers, have always been a delight to behold. As I mentioned in a previous post about eggplant dishes, the flower’s meaning is ‘truth.’ Much like these beautiful flowers, may this honest and delicious recipe bring abundance to your table.
