Aubergine Black Bean Stir Fry Recipes

AUBERGINE & BLACK BEAN STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat a wok and add the oil. When hot, stir-fry aubergines for 10-12 mins until golden and cooked through. Add peppers and spring onions, and stir-fry for about 6 mins until just tender.
• Add the black bean sauce and 2 tbsp water and warm through. Serve with the basmati rice, scattered with finely sliced spring onion.

STIR-FRIED CHICKEN WITH BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the black beans in the wine. Meanwhile, put a large, deep skillet over high heat. Add half the oil, swirl it around, and immediately add half the garlic and ginger. Cook for 15 seconds, stirring, then add the onion. Raise the heat to high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the onion.
• Still over high heat, add the remaining oil to the pan, then the remaining garlic and ginger. Stir, add the chicken, stir again, then let it sit for 1 minute before stirring again. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken has lost its pink color, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat down to medium, add the scallion, and toss. Return the onion to the pan and add the sugar if you're using it and the soy sauce. Toss again, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then add the beans with their liquid and the stock. Raise the heat to high and cook, stir-ring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced slightly and you've scraped up all the bits of chicken, about a minute. Turn off the heat, drizzle on the sesame oil, garnish with scallion, and serve.
• 12 Simple Additions to Stir-Fried Chicken:
• You can throw almost anything you like into a stir-fry, but these are some of my favorites; some require a trip to an Asian market, but many will be in your pantry.
• 1. Add 1 tablespoon or more of bottled hoisin, plum, oyster, or ground bean sauce with the soy sauce.
• 2. Add 1/4 teaspoon or more Vietnamese-style chile paste, chile and black bean paste, or chile-garlic paste with the liquid.
• 3. Add 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil with the soy sauce. A tablespoon or so of toasted sesame seeds is also good, alone or with the oil.
• 4. Toss the chicken chunks with 1 tablespoon curry powder or five-spice powder.
• 5. Toss in 1/2 to 1 cup raw or roasted cashews or peanuts when you return the vegetables to the pan.
• 6. Omit the stock or water and add 1/2 to 1 cup coconut milk along with the soy sauce.
• 7. Add 1 cup chopped fresh tomato when you return the vegetable to the pan.
• 8. Replace half the soy sauce with nam pla (Thai fish sauce) or freshly squeezed lime juice or vinegar.
• 9. Add 1 cup mung bean sprouts when you return the vegetables to the pan.
• 10. Add 1/2 cup chopped shallot with the chicken.
• 11. Use snow peas, mushrooms, or other quick-cooking vegetables, alone or in combination, in addition to or in place of other vegetables.
• 12. Stir in 1/4 cup cooked grains (like barley, wheat berries, buckwheat, or quinoa) when you return the vegetables to the pan.

STIR-FRY VEGETABLES IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in wok and add the vegtables.
• Stir and cook 3 minutes.
• Add the remaining ingredients and continue stirring for 2-3 minutes longer or until slightly thickened.

CHINESE EGGPLANT AND TOFU IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Coat eggplant cubes in flour.
• Fry in oil 4 minutes.
• Add tofu; fry for 4 minutes until golden.
• Add black bean sauce to coat.
• Done.

PULLED BBQ AUBERGINE & BLACK BEAN BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high and grill the aubergine, turning occasionally, until blackened and soft all over, about 20-30 mins. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan over a medium heat, add the onion and fry until softened and golden, about 10 mins. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Peel the skin from the cooled aubergine and discard it, or scoop out the flesh using a spoon, then put in the pan with the onion. Add the garlic granules, paprika, sugar, oregano, 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Stir until aromatic, then mix in the barbecue sauce along with the black beans. Season and bake until the sauce is rich and thick, and the aubergine resembles pulled pork - about 10-15 mins.
• Pile into the burger buns with the red onion or pink pickled onion and any other burger fillings you like. Enjoy with coleslaw and corn on the cob on the side, if you like.