Experience this Chinese eggplant recipe with its silky texture and rich flavour, where the spicy garlic sauce is the game-changer.
Spicy Eggplant
❤️ About This Spicy Eggplant Recipe
If you like spicy food, you’ve likely heard of Chinese Sichuan cuisine. Popular among the younger generation, it’s known for its fragrant and spicy flavors. And they are so addictive.
Traditional Sichuan dishes often involve complex steps and are challenging to recreate at home. My recipe offers a simplified homemade version —easy, budget-friendly, and the sauce? Rich in flavor, can be saved and used for various dishes.
🍆 Instructions
Step One: Boil the eggplant
- Place water and eggplant in a pot over medium heat. Boil for 8-15 minutes until soft. Drain and squeeze out excess water.
Step Two: Prepare the seasoning mix
- In a bowl, combine chili flakes, minced garlic, and spring onion. Set aside.
Step Three: Making the Sauce
- In a small saucepan, heat olive oil and sesame seeds over medium heat until the seeds turn slightly golden. Turn off the heat, then pour the hot oil over the garlic, chili flakes, and spring onion in the bowl.
Step Four: Mixing All Together
- Add soy sauce and balsamic vinegar to the bowl with the toasted sesame mixture. Mix well, then stir in the boiled eggplant. Thoroughly combine and serve.
When we mix in garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar, they team up to make the plain eggplant taste wonderfully flavorful and tender. It’s like a burst of deliciousness in your mouth!
♨️ Recipe Tips for Spicy Eggplant
- Smooth Texture:
- Start by peeling the eggplant skin to achieve a smooth and silky texture.
- Quality Oil:
- Use high-quality olive oil since eggplants absorb a considerable amount of oil.
- Adjust Spice Level:
- When choosing chilies, pick a spiciness level you’re comfortable with. Freshly blended dried chilies offer more aroma and flavor, similar to coffee beans.
- Versatile Sauce:
- You can make more sauce and save it for other dishes, using it as a salad dressing or adding it to any stir-fry dish.
- Safety First:
- The heated oil reaches high temperatures, so ensure the safety of children by keeping them away while you are preparing the dish.
🔎 FAQs
Q: Can I use a different type of oil instead of olive oil?
A: Yes, you can use other types of oil like vegetable oil or peanut oil.
Q: Can I leave the skin on the eggplant?
A: Yes, you can leave the skin on if you prefer a different texture. However, peeling the skin will give a smoother and silkier consistency to the dish.
Q: Can I use fresh chillies instead of dried ones?
A: Using dried chilies tends to give the dish a more concentrated and intense flavor. It is not recommended to use fresh ones for this recipe.
Q: How can you serve this dish?
A: This dish can be served with rice, as a noodles topping, or as an appetizer salad. Enjoy it any way you prefer!
Isn’t this spicy eggplant recipe easy enough to inspire you to try it? If you enjoy the flavor, consider giving it a 5-star rating. 🤓
Chinese Eggplant Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 eggplant (peel and cut into 1cm wide strips)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon spring onion(green parts) (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes (add more if you can take the heat)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or adjust to your liking)
- 2 L water
Instructions
- Boil the eggplant: Place water and eggplant in a pot over medium heat. Boil for 8-15 minutes until soft. Drain and squeeze out excess water.
- Prepare the seasoning mix: In a bowl, combine chili flakes, minced garlic, and spring onion. Set aside.
- Making the Sauce: In a small saucepan, heat olive oil and sesame seeds over medium heat until the seeds turn slightly golden. Turn off the heat, then pour the hot oil over the garlic, chili flakes, and spring onion in the bowl.
- Mixing All Together: Add soy sauce and balsamic vinegar to the bowl with the toasted sesame mixture. Mix well, then stir in the boiled eggplant. Thoroughly combine and serve.
Recipe Notes:
- Smooth Texture: Start by peeling the eggplant skin to achieve a smooth and silky texture.
- Quality Oil: Use high-quality olive oil since eggplants absorb a considerable amount of oil.
- Adjust Spice Level: When choosing chilies, pick a spiciness level you’re comfortable with. Freshly blended dried chilies offer more aroma and flavor, similar to coffee beans.
- Versatile Sauce: You can make more sauce and save it for other dishes, using it as a salad dressing or adding it to any stir-fry dish.
- Safety First: The heated oil reaches high temperatures, so ensure the safety of children by keeping them away while you are preparing the dish.
Nutrition Information:
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