Soft Hainanese-Style Grilled Eggplant
Spring Appetizer Special: Soft and Delicious Grilled Eggplant Recipe
Inspired by the unforgettable soft texture and deep flavors of grilled eggplant I tasted during a trip to Hainan, this recipe has been specially developed to help you recreate that deliciousness at home. Discover how to elevate eggplant into a dish with a wonderfully tender texture and exceptional taste. Make this exquisite eggplant dish, perfect as a unique side or main, right now!
Main Ingredients
- 2 eggplants
- 1/2 onion
- 1 stalk green onion (scallion)
- 60g king oyster mushrooms
Seasoning
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the two eggplants thoroughly. Place them in a pot and boil until they become tender and soft. Be careful not to overcook them until mushy; remove them once they are cooked through and tender.
Step 2
While the eggplants are boiling, rinse the king oyster mushrooms under running water, pat them dry, and finely chop them. The mushrooms’ aroma will enhance the dish’s flavor.
Step 3
Peel and wash half an onion, then finely chop it so it’s ready for stir-frying with the other vegetables.
Step 4
Wash the green onion (scallion) and finely chop both the white and green parts. The fresh flavor of the green onion will brighten the taste of the stir-fried vegetables.
Step 5
If king oyster mushrooms are unavailable, shiitake mushrooms are a great substitute. If using shiitake mushrooms, clean them well and chop them finely. The deep umami flavor of shiitake will greatly enrich the dish.
Step 6
Heat a pan with a generous amount of cooking oil. Add the chopped onion, chopped mushrooms, and sliced green onion, and stir-fry over high heat. It’s important to stir-fry until the natural sweetness of the vegetables is released.
Step 7
Once the vegetables start to look slightly translucent, add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 8
Add 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce to the pan for added savory depth. Stir-fry quickly with the vegetables to ensure the sauce is evenly distributed. Even a small amount of oyster sauce can significantly boost the dish’s flavor.
Step 9
Continue stir-frying the vegetables over high heat. Cook until the vegetables’ moisture evaporates and they are lightly browned. This stir-fried vegetable mixture will add a wonderful flavor when used as a filling for the eggplant.
Step 10
For the boiled eggplants, remove the stems. Cut them in half lengthwise. Then, gently use the back of a knife to scrape out the inner flesh, creating a pocket for the filling while keeping the eggplant’s structure intact. This prepares the inside for stuffing.
Step 11
Once the inside of the eggplant is opened up, finely chop the eggplant flesh you’ve scraped out, excluding the parts you’ll use for filling. Chopping them into smaller pieces will help them integrate better with the stir-fried vegetables.
Step 12
Carefully stuff the prepared stir-fried vegetable mixture into the opened eggplants. Shape the eggplant around the filling to ensure it holds well during cooking. This will make for a beautifully presented dish.
Step 13
If you have an oven, place the stuffed eggplants on an oven tray and bake using the ‘auto cook’ or ‘grill’ setting until golden brown. The oven’s heat will further tenderize the eggplant and deepen its flavor.
Step 14
If you don’t have an oven, you can use a microwave. Place the stuffed eggplants on a microwave-safe dish and microwave for about 3 minutes, or until cooked through. Adjust the time as needed to ensure the eggplant is tender.
Step 15
The finished grilled eggplant will be wonderfully soft on the outside with a filling packed with flavor. Because the eggplant was blanched, the skin is also tender, resulting in the best possible texture and a visually appealing dish.
Step 16
For an extra touch of color and freshness, finely chop some red chili pepper and sprinkle it over the top of the grilled eggplant as a garnish. This is a simple tip that enhances both the appearance and the taste.
