Grilled Shrimp And Eggplant With Fish Sauce And Mint Recipes

GRILLED SHRIMP AND EGGPLANT WITH FISH SAUCE AND MINT

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium or the oven to 425 degrees. Toss eggplant with 6 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place in a grill basket, or spread in an even layer on one or two rimmed baking sheets (leave plenty of room between pieces so they can brown). Grill or roast until eggplant softens and browns, about 10 to 20 minutes.
• While eggplant cooks, toss shrimp with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Thread shrimp onto skewers if grilling. If roasting, remove baking sheet from oven and add shrimp, stirring well. Return to oven to bake until shrimp is just opaque and eggplant is golden brown, an additional 10 to 12 minutes. Or grill shrimp alongside eggplant until shrimp is cooked and eggplant very soft and brown, 5 to 10 minutes longer.
• Using a mortar and pestle or a heavy knife, pound or mince together the garlic and a pinch of salt until a paste forms (if using a knife, use flat side after garlic is minced). In a bowl or platter, toss shrimp, eggplant, garlic paste, mint and fish sauce together. Serve with mint sprigs for garnish.

GRILLED SHRIMP AND EGGPLANT APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Cut the tops off the eggplants and slice each eggplant vertically into four slices, each about one-half-inch thick.
• Place three tablespoons of the oil plus salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl, add the eggplants and toss to coat them completely with this mixture.
• Place remaining oil along with soy sauce and lemon juice in another bowl, add the shrimp and toss.
• Allow the shrimp and eggplant to marinate at least 30 minutes, then light the grill.
• Grill the eggplant slices very close to hot coals for about five minutes, turning them once during the grilling, until they are attractively seared. Do not overcook. String the shrimp on skewers or place them on a fine mesh rack and grill them about two minutes on each side, until they begin to sear. Do not overcook.
• Spread each grilled eggplant slice with a little of the hoisin sauce and sprinkle with some of the scallion. Place a grilled shrimp on each eggplant slice and roll the eggplant around it. Skewer with a toothpick and serve.