GARLIC EGGPLANT NOODLES

Garlic Eggplant Noodles image

Provided by Julie Cole

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

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1 to 2 tablespoons neutral oil
1 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 large or 2 medium Chinese eggplants, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
1 tablespoon white miso paste
¼ teaspoon crushed chili flakes
¼ teaspoon ground Szechuan peppercorn
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ cup aji-mirin cooking wine
¼ cup Chinese black vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ tablespoons water
4 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 small handful fresh Thai basil, picked off the stems, thinly sliced
1 pound Chinese lo mein noodles, cooked 2 scallions, chopped, for garnish
10 to 15 fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
4 or 5 pickled red chilis, chopped, for garnish
1 teaspoon fried garlic for garnish

Steps:

HEAT the neutral oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Do not let them develop any color.
ADD the eggplant, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, or until the eggplant is cooked through (look for the eggplant to appear slightly translucent and no longer white). If the mixture appears dry, add 1 tablespoon neutral oil to moisten.
ADD the miso paste, crushed chili flakes, ground Szechuan peppercorn, white pepper, and chili powder. Stir to combine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
ADD the aji-mirin, black vinegar, sugar, salt, water, and soy sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat back to medium and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
REMOVE from the heat. Pulse the sauce with an immersion blender 2 or 3 times to combine (there will still be chunks). Alternatively, take 2 cups of the sauce and pulse in a blender 1 or 2 times, return the blended sauce to the pot, and stir to combine.
TOP the noodles with the sauce mixture and garnish with basil, scallions, cilantro, pickled chilis, and fried garlic.