Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

User Reviews

5.0

270 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    15 mins

  • Total Time

    40 mins

  • Servings

    4 servings

  • Calories

    293 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish

  • Cuisine

    Chinese

Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

This restaurant-quality eggplant with garlic sauce recipe doesn't require deep-frying and has the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • tablespoons oyster sauce (or vegetarian oyster sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry cooking sherry)
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic  (about 6 cloves garlic; divided)
  • 1 pound Chinese or Japanese eggplants (2-3 eggplants)
  • tablespoons neutral oil (such as vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or peanut oil)
  • 4 ounces ground pork (or ground chicken, optional)
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 5-10 dried red chilies (de-seeded and sliced into small pieces)
  • 2 scallions (chopped)
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Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, add the hot water and stir in the sugar to dissolve. Then add the cornstarch, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, sesame oil, dark soy sauce, and white pepper. Stir in half of the garlic (1 tablespoon), and set this mixture aside.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, trim the ends off the eggplants and cut them on an angle, rotating the eggplant with each cut, into triangular bite-size chunks. (Don’t leave them out too long, or they will turn brown.
  3. Heat a wok over medium-high heat until it’s smoking lightly, then pour 1½ tablespoons of the neutral oil around the perimeter of the wok to evenly coat it with oil. Spread the eggplant in a single layer, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, flipping and stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is lightly browned. Spread another 1½ tablespoons of the oil around the perimeter of the wok. Continue cooking the eggplant (still in a single layer) for another 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until evenly seared, soft, and slightly translucent. (You may want to do this in two batches.) Remove the eggplant from the wok and set on a plate.
  4. Increase the heat to high and add the remaining 1½ tablespoons oil to the wok. Add the ground pork (if using) and cook until opaque, breaking it up into small bits as you go. Add the ginger, dried chilies, and the remaining tablespoon of garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the aromatics are toasted and fragrant.
  5. Add the eggplant back to the wok, and stir-fry until combined. Stir the sauce again to ensure the cornstarch is well combined with the liquid, then add it to the wok. Mix well and bring to a simmer, cooking until the sauce is just thick enough to coat a spoon. Stir in the scallions and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 293kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 6g Monounsaturated Fat 13g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 20mg (7%) Sodium 500mg (21%) Potassium 405mg (12%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 254IU (5%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 293 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 293kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g 35%
Monounsaturated Fat 13g 65%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 500mg 21%
Potassium 405mg 9%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 254IU 5%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5.0

270 reviews
Excellent

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