Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Eggplant with Pork: A Perfect Side Dish Recipe
Learn how to make delicious stir-fried eggplant with pork, inspired by the popular Japanese drama ‘Samurai Gourmet’.
I was deeply inspired by the stir-fried eggplant with pork featured in the Japanese drama ‘Samurai Gourmet’ on Netflix. This show captivated me with its beautiful food cinematography and the way each dish was woven into stories about life. The simple yet incredibly appetizing appearance of the pork and eggplant stir-fry made me determined to recreate it. This recipe is straightforward and requires no special ingredients, making it perfect for anyone to try, whether as a simple side dish or a light main meal. Let’s dive into the delicious world of stir-fried eggplant with pork!
Main Ingredients
- 200g sliced pork neck
- 1 eggplant (small size)
- 1/2 Tbsp cooking oil
- Pinch of sesame seeds (for garnish)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce
- 1/2 red chili pepper (or 1/4 Korean green chili pepper, deseeded and finely minced)
- 1 Tbsp minced scallions
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin or sake)
- 1/2 Tbsp honey (adjust to taste, can substitute with sugar)
- 1 tsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 red chili pepper (or 1/4 Korean green chili pepper, deseeded and finely minced)
- 1 Tbsp minced scallions
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin or sake)
- 1/2 Tbsp honey (adjust to taste, can substitute with sugar)
- 1 tsp red chili flakes (gochugaru)
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
This content is provided by ‘Man-de-Recipe’ and is best viewed with photos by Maple Daniel.
Step 2
First, wash the fresh eggplant thoroughly under running water. Trim off the stem, then cut the eggplant lengthwise into four equal parts. Next, slice these quarters into bite-sized pieces, about 4-5 cm in length. If you have a thick eggplant, you can cut these pieces in half again.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients. Add the finely minced red chili pepper (or green chili), minced scallions, minced garlic, soy sauce, cooking wine, honey, red chili flakes, and sesame oil. Mix them together lightly with chopsticks or a spoon to create the sauce. I used honey for a less intense sweetness, but feel free to add about 1 tablespoon of sugar if you prefer it sweeter.
Step 4
Heat a frying pan over high heat for 3 minutes until well preheated. Add 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil and add the sliced pork neck. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes until the pork is lightly browned. Searing the pork nicely will enhance its flavor.
Step 5
Now, add the sliced eggplant to the pan with the pork and continue to stir-fry for another 2 minutes. The eggplant is perfectly cooked when it becomes tender and slightly translucent. Be careful not to overcook it, as it can become mushy.
Step 6
Once the eggplant and pork are partially cooked, pour all the prepared spicy and sweet sauce into the frying pan. Gently toss to coat the ingredients evenly with the sauce.
Step 7
Finally, continue to stir-fry over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to meld with the ingredients. Be mindful not to use high heat at this stage, as the sauce might burn. Once the sauce has evenly coated everything, your delicious stir-fried eggplant with pork is ready! Isn’t this a wonderfully quick and easy eggplant dish? Transfer the stir-fry to a serving plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a visually appealing finish.
Step 8
Serve this stir-fry over a bowl of warm, steamed rice. The combination of the soft, yielding eggplant and the satisfying chewiness of the pork creates a delightful culinary experience. The soy sauce base is complemented by the chili, giving it a refreshing spiciness. It’s also an excellent side dish that keeps well if you make a larger batch.
Step 9
Today, I shared a recipe for stir-fried eggplant with pork, an easy-to-make eggplant dish. Eggplant can be a bit polarizing due to its unique soft texture, but its pairing with pork is exceptionally good, enhancing its flavor. Why not try making this as a special side dish or a novel meal? Enjoy your day with delicious food! 🙂
