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Garlic steamed eggplant
Suànní zhēng qiézi (蒜泥蒸茄子): steamed eggplant strips dressed with raw garlic, soy and vinegar
Fried eggplant soaks up oil like a sponge; Chinese home cooks in Sichuan and across the north get round it by steaming long purple eggplants until creamy, then pouring over a sharp dressing of pounded raw garlic, soy, black vinegar and a little chilli oil. It is served warm or cool as a summer side with rice or noodles, and it takes almost no oil at all. A portion is about 70 kcal. The common mistake is steaming them whole, which leaves the centres hard; cut them into fingers first so they cook evenly. Chef's tip: steam the strips skin side up; the purple colour stays brighter and the flesh doesn't go grey.
- Total time
- 22 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 long Chinese eggplantsabout 500 g, cut into 10 cm lengths, then quartered lengthways
- 5 garlic clovespounded to a paste
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegaror rice vinegar
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tsp chilli oil (optional)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 handful fresh corianderchopped
- 1 spring onionsliced
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Lay 2 long Chinese eggplants on a heatproof plate, skin side up. Steam over boiling water on a high heat for 10–12 minutes, until the flesh is completely soft and a chopstick goes in with no resistance.
12 minStep 2: While it steams, mix 5 garlic cloves, 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar, ½ tsp sugar, 1 tsp chilli oil and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Pour off any water from the plate. Tear the eggplant into thinner strips with chopsticks if you like.
Step 4: Spoon the dressing over, scatter with 1 handful fresh coriander and 1 spring onion and serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does garlic steamed eggplant take?
- About 22 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of light soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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