Eggplant With Spicy Ginger Sauce Food

SZECHUAN EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Cut eggplant into 1/2 inch thick half-moons or into bite-sized pieces ( see photos). Place in a big bowl covered with water and stir in 2 teaspoons salt. Cover with a plate and let stand 20-30 minutes.
• In the meantime, chop the garlic and ginger and make the Szechuan Sauce.
• To make the Szechuan Sauce: Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Crush. Place these along with the remaining ingredients ( soy, chili paste, sesame oil, rice vinegar, Chinese cooking wine, sugar, and five spice) in a small bowl and whisk. Set by the stove.
• Drain and rinse the eggplant and pat dry with a towel. Toss with the corn starch.
• heat 1 -2 tablespoons oil in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add half the eggplant spreading them out. You want to get both sides nice and golden, and the insides cooked through -so take your time here and dont rush this step. Let one side brown then turn them over using tongs. This will take about 10 minutes for each batch. ( If in a hurry sometimes I'll use 2 pans.) Set the eggplant aside.
• Add 1 more tablespoon oil to the skillet, and over medium heat, add the garlic and ginger, stirring for 2 minutes. Turn the fan on, add the dried chilis and stir one minute. Pour the Szechuan sauce into the pan and bring to a simmer for 20 seconds. Add the eggplant back into the skillet, tossing gently for about 1 minute. If it seems dry add a tablespoon of water to loosen.
• Place in a serving dish and top with scallions and optional peanuts.
• Serve with rice, cauliflower rice, black rice or rice noodles.

VIETNAMESE EGGPLANT WITH SPICY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add eggplant; cook until golden brown and soft, but not mushy, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Mix remaining 2 tablespoons oil, lemongrass, garlic, green onion, basil, red chile, and ginger together in a bowl. Pour over eggplant in the skillet. Cook until green onion wilts, about 3 minutes. Stir in oyster sauce and sugar. Cook until flavors combine, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

SPICY GLAZED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Toss eggplant with 1 teaspoon salt and drain in a colander, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes.
• Rinse eggplant under cold water and dry well, pressing out any excess moisture.
• Stir together mirin, soy sauce, ginger, and seven-spice powder.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté eggplant until browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in mirin mixture and cook, gently stirring and turning frequently, until sauce becomes a glaze and eggplant is browned and tender, about 1 minute.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, sprinkled with chives.

EGGPLANT WITH SPICY GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then add onions, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Add eggplant and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add 6 tablespoons water, the ponzu, chili-garlic sauce, sesame oil and half the cilantro. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is tender and liquid is absorbed. Serve hot, on brown rice, sprinkled with remaining cilantro.

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.

CHINESE TAKE-OUT EGGPLANT IN SPICY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a wok, set over medium-high heat, heat the oil to 360º.
• Add half the eggplant to the oil and fry for about 5 minutes or until the eggplant is limp.
• Remove the eggplant with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined sheet pan. Cook the remaining eggplant in the same manner.
• In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, bean sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Set aside.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil in the wok. Add the garlic, ginger and chiles and cook 1 minute. Add the pork and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Return the eggplant to the wok. Stir the sauce and add it to the pork. Boil until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
• To serve, garnish with green onions.