Steamed Eggplant Aubergine Salad Food

COLD STEAMED EGGPLANT WITH SESAME SOY DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice, sugar, sesame or walnut oil, and canola oil. Add the optional ginger and/or garlic. Set aside.
• If you can find Japanese eggplant, cut them in half lengthwise. If using large globe eggplants, cut them lengthwise into quarters. Place in a steamer and steam 10 to 15 minutes, until thoroughly tender. Remove from the heat and cut in 3/4-inch wide slices. Season with salt. Toss gently with the dressing (it's okay if the eggplant falls apart a little) and half the chives while warm, and chill for 1 hour. Toss again and serve on a bed of baby arugula. Sprinkle the remaining chives over the top.

STEAMED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1.5 cm (3/4 in) slices, then cut each slice into 1.5 cm (3/4 in) strips.
• Place eggplant in a colander and rinse well under cold running water. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Arrange eggplant in one layer on a heatproof plate that will fit inside a steamer basket.
• Place plate inside steamer and position over a deep saucepan or wok of boiling water and steam, covered, for 6 minutes or until eggplant is just tender when pierced with a knife.
• Carefully remove plate from steamer and allow eggplant to cool slightly.
• To serve, arrange eggplant on a platter and spoon over reserved dressing.
• Sprinkle with spring onions, roasted sesame and pepper.
• Sprinkle eggplant with salt on both sides and lay on a tray in one layer. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Dressing.
• Meanwhile, To make the dressing, place all ingredients in a small heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes or until slightly reduced, then set aside.

YU HSIANG EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Cut the eggplant into 2" long sections. Halve, then cut into thirds or quarters [sticks approximately 2"x ½"x1/2"].
• Steam the eggplant using any steaming method; I usually place a steaming rack in my wok, add half cup water & turn the heat to high, then place the ingredients on a dish and place the dish on the rack in the wok. Cover and steam. The eggplant will take approximately 15-20 minute to cook.
• When tender [you can easily poke a chopstick, fork, etc. through one of the pieces], remove from heat.
• If the veggies are sitting in a deep pool of liquid, drain, but not too thoroughly. Set aside.
• Mince 3 cloves garlic; finely chop 2-3 stalks scallions. Set aside 1 tbsp chopped scallion for garnishing the final dish.
• Heat 1 tsp cooking oil on medium [if using an electric stove, heat on high].
• Add ½ pound ground pork [skip to step 4 if you're doing the vegetarian version]. Break up the pork using a metal spatula to help it cook quicker.
• When the meat is no longer pink, add the chopped garlic and scallions. Stir.
• Add 2 tsp chili bean paste, 1 tsp sugar, ½-1 tsp vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp soy sauce, then stir. Let cook for 1-2 minute If the mixture looks very dry, add ¼ cup water.
• Taste; add more salt if it doesn't taste salty enough, more chili bean paste if it's not spicy enough, a pinch more sugar if you find it a tad too salty.
• Stir in the cornstarch paste; cook until the sauce thickens [a minute or two].
• Pour into a shallow bowl and drizzle with sesame oil.
• with the remaining scallions. Serve with plenty of steamed white rice.

AUBERGINE & POMEGRANATE SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the aubergine into 1cm-thick rounds. Peel the garlic cloves.
• In a large pan on a medium heat, fry the aubergine slices in generous amounts of olive oil, about 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown - you will need to do this in batches, adding more oil as necessary, as aubergines absorb a lot.
• Transfer to folded paper towels to drain, and allow to cool before chilling until needed.
• For the dressing, pick and finely chop the mint leaves. Using a pestle and mortar, crush the garlic and a pinch of sea salt into a paste. When smooth, mix in the extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, pomegranate molasses and mint.
• Arrange the aubergine slices on a serving plate, then top with the yoghurt, drizzle over the dressing and scatter over the pomegranate seeds.