Best Japanese Eggplant Recipes

GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a large shallow baking dish. Mix together the soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Pour the marinade over the eggplant and let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat grill. Season the eggplant with salt and pepper to taste and grill on each side for 3 minutes, basting occasionally with the remaining marinade. Serve topped with the toasted sesame seeds.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SAUTE

Steps:

• Combine Soy sauce, mirin, crushed garlic and ginger in a bowl.
• Slice your eggplant thinly and into small pieces.
• Toss eggplant in hot pan (I use a spray oil like Pam) with the sauce mixture.
• Sauté at a medium heat until very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add a little water to keep the veg moist if necessary.
• Great as a side dish for fish or chicken.
• Add diced medium firm tofu or any other protein for a very simple, quick meal.

SPICY STIR-FRIED JAPANESE EGGPLANT AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Trim off the calyx end of the eggplants. Cut in half lengthwise, then slice thin (about 1/4 inch). Lightly salt, and toss in a colander. Allow to sit for 15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. Squeeze out excess water, then dry between sheets of paper towel.
• Meanwhile, trim off the ends of the cucumbers. Cut in half lengthwise, then slice on the diagonal into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, salt and sesame oil in a small bowl. Place all of the ingredients near your wok or frying pan.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two from the surface of the pan. Add the peanut or canola oil to the sides of the pan and tilt the pan to distribute. Add the eggplant. Stir-fry for three to four minutes until cooked through. Add the ginger and red pepper flakes, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the cucumbers and scallions or chives. Stir-fry 30 seconds. Add the soy sauce mixture to the wok, and stir-fry one minute until the cucumber just begins to wilt. Remove from the heat and serve.

MISO GLAZED GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat a charcoal grill or kamado-style ceramic charcoal cooker for direct grilling over high heat.
• Whisk together the miso, mirin, sugar and 2 tablespoons water until combined.
• Brush the cut-side of the eggplant with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut-side down, until lightly golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn the eggplant over, brush with some of the glaze and continue grilling for 2 more minutes. Brush with more glaze, flip over and grill until the cut-side is caramelized, about 4 minutes. Remove to a platter, cut-side up, and sprinkle with mint.

ASIAN CHICKEN AND JAPANESE EGGPLANT STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Combine marinade ingredients and marinate chicken for a minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• In a large wok, heat 2 tablespoons oil for 20 seconds. Add chicken and stir quickly (separating chicken) for 30 seconds. Remove chicken and drain.
• Place 2 tablespoons garlic and red bell pepper in wok and cook for 5 seconds. Add cooking wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce and water to wok. Slice off eggplant stem and slice eggplant. Add eggplant and stir until the mixture boils. Turn heat to low, cover and cook 2-3 minutes (make sure mixture does not run dry). After 2 minutes check to see if eggplant is tender; then add cornstarch mixture slowly. Return chicken to wok; stir and fold until mixed well with sauce again. Add green onion and sesame oil and stir & fold until thoroughly mixed.
• Serve with steamed or fried rice.

WHOLE GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH LEMON AND SOY SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the soy sauce, lemon juice, and olive oil in a bowl to make the dressing; set aside. Score the stem end of each eggplant, making a circular cut in the skin (this will make the eggplant easier to peel). Poke a few holes into the eggplants with a skewer or fork to allow steam to escape as they grill.
• Preheat a grill to medium. Grill for about 8 minutes, turning the eggplants a quarter turn every 2 minutes. Try to grill the eggplant all around. Test the eggplants for doneness by pressing against their sides with a pair of tongs. If the eggplants give easily, they're ready. Transfer the eggplants to a plate.
• As soon as the eggplants are cool enough to handle, carefully peel off the skin (the skin comes off more easily if the eggplant is warm; don't let it cool completely). Once you've removed the skin, remove the stems, and slice each eggplant into 4 pieces, cutting on an angle. Transfer the eggplant slices to a platter. Drizzle with dressing, sprinkle with the bonito, and serve.

JAPANESE GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) (YAKI NASU)

Steps:

• Bring seasoning ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan and let cool.
• Bring sauce to a boil in a small saucepan and let cool.
• Grill eggplants whole on a wire rack on grill until they are soft and feel tender.
• Test with your finger or a toothpick to see how soft it is.
• Place in cold water to cool; then peel and pat dry.
• Put eggplant in seasoning liquid; allow to sit for at least 10 minutes.
• Remove eggplant and cut into bite-size pieces.
• Place eggplant into serving dish; top with some sauce and a few bonito flakes; serve at room temperature or chilled.

GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH AN ASIAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Wash eggplants and pat dry with paper towels, set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl combine the Chinese 5-spice powder, onion powder, garlic salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
• Slice the eggplants in half lengthwise, brush with olive oil and rub the mixed spices on both sides.
• Grill over low heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until tender.
• Arrange cabbage on serving plates and top with grilled eggplant; drizzle with the asian vinaigrette.
• Top with the fresh mint, feta, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• Asian Vinaigrette:.
• In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients except the vegetable and sesame oils. With the blender/processor running, slowly pour in the vegetalbe oil followed by the sesame oil. Process for 10 to 15 seconds longer. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (If necessary, whisk before serving.).
• COOK'S TIP: Leftover vinaigrette makes for a tasty salad dressing or marinade for fish.

VEGAN JAPANESE EGGPLANT CHILI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, mushrooms, and 1/2 cup water; cook until eggplant is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, butternut squash, lentils, remaining 1/2 cup water, bell peppers, cocoa powder, chili powder, and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until butternut squash and lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH MISO

Steps:

• In a bowl mix together miso, sugar, sake, mirin, sake and egg yolk.
• Wash eggplant and cut lengthways in 1cm thick pieces. Sprinkle with salt and leave ½ hour. Rinse, pat dry then brush with a little veg oil on both sides.
• Either BBQ, grill or panfry eggplant until soft.
• Spread one side with miso mix, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Grill for a few minutes until the miso bubbles on top.
• Serve, garnished with a little julienned spring onion greens.

NASU DENGAKU (GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH MISO PASTE)

Steps:

• For the sauce, whisk the dashi, sugar, mirin, miso and corn starch together. Heat over medium heat stirring until the sauce thickens. Take it off the heat and add the yuzu whisking it in to the sauce.
• For the eggplant, slice them in half lengthwise and score a criss-cross pattern into them to help retain the sauce. Brush with oil and grill on a BBQ or under a broiler until the tops are a dark brown and the eggplant is cooked. Give the sliced sides a good coating of sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds then put under a broiler to get a little caramelization (be careful, this sauce will burn quickly).
• Serve immediately with some rice.

GRILLED JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH CITRUS MISO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except eggplant and salt and pepper in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let cool. Preheat grill. Season eggplant with salt and pepper to taste and brush with miso sauce. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, basting with marinade.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) WITH TOFU

Steps:

• In small saucepan over medium heat, bring sherry, dark sesame oil, garlic, ginger root, vinegar, and 1 TBS of the soy sauce to a low simmer.
• Thoroughly stir cornstarch into water until well blended and add to saucepan.
• Simmer sauce until thickened, then turn off heat, cover and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat for 1 minute, then add the light sesame oil (or vegetable oil) and heat the oil for a minute.
• Add the chopped onion to the skillet, and saute until tender but not golden.
• Add the diced tofu to the skillet and saute up to 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
• Add the eggplant and sprinkle with remaining 1 TBS of soy sauce, and saute until tender but not mushy.
• Stir in sauce.
• Serve over brown rice.

JAPANESE GLAZED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine first 7 ingredients. Set aside.
• Wash your eggplants. Cut off the top and then cut in half length wise. If necessary, make the eggplant halves short enough to fit into a 12" skillet. Using a knife, make criss cross marks on the eggplant, making sure that the eggplant doesn't break apart. Leave skin on eggplants.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12" skillet.
• Heat oil over medium high heat. Lay 2 eggplant halves in pan, followed by 1/4 water. Cover and let cook for 7-10 minutes or until eggplant is lightly browned. Carefully remove eggplant halves from skillet; set aside.
• Repeat with 2 other eggplant halves and other tablespoons oil.
• Pour sauce mixture into skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes or until thickened.
• Pour sauce over the criss-crossed side of eggplant. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

JAPANESE STYLE EGGPLANT AND GROUND BEEF CURRY

Steps:

• Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic with oil in a saucepan until beef is browned. Add eggplants to the saucepan and continue to cook for additional 5 minutes, stirring.
• Add water and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium and cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the sauce mix and garam masala, stir until fully melted.
• Add tomatoes and green peas.
• Cook 10 additional minutes on low heat.

WW 2 POINTS - JAPANESE GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat outdoor grill, stove-top grill pan or broiler.
• Coat eggplant with cooking spray. (Note: If you can't find any Japanese eggplants, buy regular eggplants that are small in size.).
• Grill or broil eggplant turning as needed until lightly charred and tender, about 7 to 9 minutes.
• Whisk soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a small bowl until blended.
• Drizzle over grilled eggplant and sprinkle with scallions.
• 2 points per serving - Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Place olive oil and garlic in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until garlic is evenly browned. Remove from heat and transfer garlic to a large bowl. Add moro miso and whisk until combined; set aside.
• Cut eggplants on the bias, starting at one end, and alternating the direction of the bias with each cut, forming triangular shapes. Cut each triangular piece in half again.
• Add enough grapeseed oil to a large skillet to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat oil over medium-high heat and add eggplant. Fry eggplant until outside is crispy and center is soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Squeeze limes over eggplant and transfer to a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons miso mixture and shiso leaves, keeping any remaining miso mixture in an airtight container, refrigerated up to 3 days. Toss to combine. Serve immediately.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH HARICOTS VERTS AND THAI RED CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in wok or heavy large skillet over high heat until hot. Add eggplant strips and toss to coat with oil. Stir-fry until eggplant strips begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Add haricots verts and stir-fry until eggplant strips are tender and haricots verts are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Add garlic and ginger and stir-fry 10 seconds. Add miso mixture, soy sauce and curry paste and stir until liquids thicken, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl and serve.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT, TERIYAKI STYLE

Steps:

• Heat broiler.
• Using a sharp knife, lightly score eggplant flesh in a criss-cross pattern.
• Arrange the eggplant skin side up in a single layer on a non-stick broiler pan.
• Lightly brush with half the oil; broil 4 inches away from heat source for 3 minutes or until dimpled but not charred.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine soy sauce, sugar and mirin.
• Turn eggplant slices over and brush with remaining oil; broil 1 minute.
• Brush with soy sauce mixture; broil 1 more minute more until eggplant is tender when it's pierced with a knife.
• Sprinkle with scallions before serving.

WW 0 POINTS JAPANESE GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat outdoor grill or broiler.
• Coat eggplant with cooking spray.
• Grill or broil eggplant, turning as needed, until lightly charred and tender (about 7-9 minutes).
• Whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, ginger, and garlic in small bowl until well blended.
• Drizzle over grilled eggplant and then sprinkle with scallions.
• Points/yield figured on 3/4 cup per serving.