North Chinese Roast Eggplant Recipes

CHINESE EGGPLANT RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants into 1.5 inches long pieces. Mix the salt and vinegar with the eggplant and let it sits for 15 minutes. Drain and dry thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
• Coat the eggplants with eggwhite, followed by the potato starch.
• Deep-fry the eggplants with oil in moderate heat until the flesh starts to turn color. Remove and drain on a kitchen towel.
• Saute the ingredients in B with some oil over low to medium heat until aromatic.
• Mix all the ingredients in C to constitute the sauce. Add the sauce to the wok.
• Return the fried eggplants to the wok. Flash fry for 10 seconds over high heat.
• Dish out and serve immediately.

NORTH CHINESE ROAST EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Cut the eggplant into 2-inch fingerlike strips. A 7- or 8-inch eggplant will yield about 18 to 24 pieces. Heat the peanut oil in a wok or large frying pan.
• In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar and vinegar. Fry the eggplant a batch at a time until golden brown and drain on paper towels. The eggplant pieces should have plenty of room to fry on the surface of the oil.
• When all the eggplant is fried, heat a dry wok and add a little oil. When hot, add the garlic and ginger and stir briefly. Add the vinegar mixture and stir. It will quickly thicken, then add the eggplant and toss until most of the sauce cooks away and the pieces are well coated. Turn off the heat, dribble in the sesame oil and remove to a bowl.
• When ready to serve (this improves as it sits at room temperature), garnish with the scallion shreds.

ROASTED EGGPLANTS WITH GARLIC (蒜香烤茄子)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix oil with salt, light soy sauce and Chinese five spice powder.
• Wipe the eggplant clean and slice them in half lengthwise. With the tip of a knife, score the flesh deeply in a diamond cross-hatch pattern by making several long cuts, cutting at a steep angle, and then rotating the eggplant to make another set of similar cuts. This step helps the eggplants to absorb the oil and seasonings.
• Heat oven to 210 degree C. Then brush 1/2 of the oil mixture on the surface and then roast for 15 minutes. Take out and brush the remaining oil mixture. Continue roasting for another 15 minutes until the eggplants become soft and the edges are slightly curly.

ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH SICHUAN-STYLE PORK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack set on the middle shelf.
• Use a sharp paring knife to lightly score the flesh of each eggplant 6 to 8 times. Place the on a baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the eggplant, cut-side down, and bake until the eggplant starts to soften and the skin starts to brown, about 15 minutes. Use a large offset spatula to gently flip the eggplant over and bake until the flesh is completely softened and light golden brown, about 15 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the pork: Heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan. Add the pork and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, breaking up the meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the scallion whites, garlic and ginger and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the chili-garlic sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, 1/2 cup water and half of the scallion greens. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To serve, spoon the pork over the roasted eggplant and garnish with the remaining scallion greens. Serve with steamed rice.

BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Prepare a baking dish with non-stick play.
• Arrange eggplant and tomato slices into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables; season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the entire mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Switch oven broiler to high; continue baking until completely browned, about 5 minutes.

CHINESE EGGPLANT IN GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Add 3/4 cup of water and the cornstarch to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, hoisin, vinegar, Chinese five spice, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine and set aside.
• To prepare the eggplant, slice the ends off of an eggplant. Slice into thirds horizontally, so you have 3 cylinders. Slice each cylinder lengthwise into quarters, so you have sticks. Repeat with remaining eggplants.
• Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add half of the eggplant, season with salt and pepper, and cook until charred and softened, about 7 - 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with remaining half.
• Deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of water, scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the skillet. Pour into the bowl with the eggplant.
• Lower the heat to medium and add about a teaspoon of oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and scallions and sauté for 30 - 60 seconds.
• Give the sauce mixture a good whisk and pour into the skillet. Let simmer until thickened, about 1 - 2 minutes.
• Add the eggplant and chili oil to the skillet. Season with salt. Stir to combine and let cook for 5 - 7 minutes so the eggplant can absorb all the flavors.
• Garnish with sliced scallions.

EGGPLANTS IN A NORTH-SOUTH SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a very large frying pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the asafetida and the urad dal.
• As soon as the dal turns a shade darker, add the mustard, cumin, nigella and fennel seeds, in that order.
• When the mustard seeds begin to pop, a matter of seconds, add the onions. Stir and fry for a minute. Add the garlic and the eggplant. Stir and fry for 4 to 5 minutes or until the onions are a bit browned.
• Add the grated tomatoes, stock, salt and cayenne. Stir to mix and bring to a boil. Cover, turn heat to low, and cook about 20 minutes or until the eggplants are tender, stirring now and then.

INDIAN EGGPLANT - BHURTHA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler. Rub oil on the outside of the egg plant, or coat with cooking spray. Place under the broiler, and cook until the flesh is soft and the skin is blistering off, about 30 minutes. Turn as needed for even cooking. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, and scoop the flesh out of the skin. Discard the skin; chop up the flesh, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the cumin seeds, and let them crackle for a few seconds and turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn them. Add the onion, ginger and garlic; cook and stir until tender. I don't let the onions get very brown. Stir in the tomato, and season with turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook and stir for a few minutes.
• Place the eggplant pieces in the skillet, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes so some of the moisture evaporates. Taste, and adjust seasonings if desired. Garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve.