My mom’s a huge gardener and she always has been. Even when she was a little kid, she spent her days helping my grandma in the garden. Now, even though she’s living in the middle of the city with a concrete patch for a backyard, she’s still growing as much as she can. I love going over to pick out fruits and vegetables. It’s kind of like having your own personal mini farm. And, as she always likes to remind me, it’s all completely organic.
The other day I went to pick up some shredded cheese (yes, I often get calls from my mom telling me to come home to pick up random groceries she’s boughten me) and I saw her eggplant plants. They were gorgeous. She gave me a particularly large one to take home and I was ridiculously excited. I decided to slice the eggplant into sticks and shallow fry it before tossing it in a honey garlic sauce. The benefits of high-heat shallow frying is two-fold: it ensures that the eggplant doesn’t absorb too much oil and also cooks it quickly so you have a somewhat crispy exterior and super-creamy interior.
These guys were so, so good. I texted my mom to tell her and her reply to me was: taste the freshness. Mike and I laughed for a good five minutes about it. But seriously, this eggplant is fresh!
Honey Garlic Eggplant Recipe
serves 2
- 1 large Japanese eggplant
- grapeseed oil for frying
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- toasted black sesame seeds, for garnish
- sliced green onions, for garnish
- fluffy white rice or grain of choice, to serve
Cut the eggplant into 3/4 inch sticks.
In a deep-sided skillet, heat up 1/2 inch of oil over medium to medium-high until it reaches 360°F. Fry eggplant in small batches, flipping if needed, until lightly golden brown, about two minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on a cooling rack.
In a small sauce pan, heat up a touch of oil and cook the garlic on medium heat until slightly golden, but not browned, 1-2 minutes. Add the honey, soy sauce and ground pepper. Turn the heat up to high so the honey-soy mixture bubbles, thickens and turns into caramel-sticky goodness.
Toss the eggplant with the sauce and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy immediately with rice or grain of choice.
I love this story so much!!! Your mom sounds like the best <3 so cute that she buys you groceries (and says things like "taste the freshness"!!!) And I'm also in love with this shallow deep-fry trick! I'm going to have to do this next time I make eggplant. After I try that miso-glazed heavenliness, that is!
Mom texts are the best. I’ve even started a #thingsmymomtexts hastag.
THIS RECIPE is to die for. I didn’t know anything about cooking eggplants until early this year (take outs are usually the case) and I’m obsessed. I have to try frying it like you suggest to keep it non-mushy.
PS. Your book is my bible. That is all.
You mom sounds plain awesome! What a gorgeous colour on that eggplant. My love for eggplant came from my mom, she cooked it in so many different ways when I was growing up but this recipe is new. I can’t wait to try!
ah brilliant! so THAT’s how you cook eggplant to get that texture! i looooooove eggplant. it’s one of my favorite vegetables. this seems like a really simple, easy prep. that warms my heart like nothing else. yummmmmmmm.
I love how easy and flavorful this eggplant is! I heart eggplant forever. :)
I feel like your mom and my mom probably shop at the same “buy your asian daughters random groceries” store. (And if they’re really on the twinsies wavelength, that usually means Costco or the Grocery Outlet.) Last time it was mochi peanuts, pop chips and a side of pork belly. Not that I’m complaining AT ALL. Also, this looks fantastic and like all my eggplant dreams have come true. Fried, creamy, saucy perfection.
This looks so delicious! I love eggplant but I’ve never tried cooking like this :)
You make me want to love eggplant with this!! Holy freakin yum!!
I love eggplant in any way, but this one is so awesome! It reminds me of one of my favorite selections at Chinese restaurants. <3 So soft and chewy-ish inside.
I WANT THIS!! The color of your mom’s eggplants is insane! Wow. My mother will bring me goodies from her garden sometimes and I am just in heaven. (Especially all the different-sized eggs from her cute lil’ hens!) I loved this story! That honey glaze sounds perfect for eggplant. YUM