Nasu Dengaku Miso Aubergine Food

MISO-GLAZED AUBERGINE (NASU DENGAKU)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200ºC / 400ºF
• Using a medium-size mixing bowl add the miso paste, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and hot water. Mix all the ingredients until they are well combined.
• To prepare the aubergines, cut them in halves lengthwise. Score the inside of the aubergine in squares making diagonal cuts. The cuts need to be deep but keeping the skin untouched.
• Using a brush, marinate the aubergine with the miso glaze. Make sure enough sauce is used on each aubergine.
• Place some baking paper on a baking tray, lay the marinated aubergines (facing up) and bake for around 30-40 minutes.
• When the aubergines are cooked, take them out of the oven and drizzle some extra miso mixture on the top, add finely chopped onions and sprinkle some sesame seeds.

NASU DENGAKU (MISO AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• To make the aubergine, soak the aubergine in water for 30 minutes. Weigh down with a plate to make sure they are completely submerged.
• To make the aka-dengaku miso, bring the sake to the boil in a saucepan. Once it starts boiling, set fire to the sake to remove all the alcohol. Turn the heat off once the flame has died out. Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan, mix and cook over a medium heat. Bring to the boil and cook until all of the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
• To make the shiro-dengaku miso, repeat the same instructions as above for the aka-dengaku miso.
• Preheat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 180C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Drain and pat the aubergine dry and deep-fry for 3 minutes on each side or until softened. Transfer to kitchen paper to drain.
• Brush both sides of each piece of aubergine with both types of miso. Arrange on a baking tray and place under a hot grill to caramelise the miso, or use a blowtorch. It will take 3-4 minutes in the oven.
• Arrange the bamboo leaves on two plates and top with the aubergine. Sprinkle over some sesame seeds and serve.

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.