Hong Shao Eggplant(红烧茄子)

Eggplant can be a challenging ingredient to cook, and if not prepared properly, it can end up with an unpleasant texture. Today, we're sharing a recipe for Hong Shao Eggplant, which is tender, flavorful, and subtly sweet with a spicy kick. After careful cooking, the eggplant becomes soft and flavorful, melting in your mouth, coated in a rich braising sauce that balances savory and spicy with a hint of sweetness and a touch of caramelized aroma. This dish is sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

4 Reviews
4 Comments
POSTED:05/09/2024
Level:Easy
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:30 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:10 min

Hong Shao Eggplant is a classic Chinese dish that's simple to make and can be ready in just 30 minutes. However, it requires a bit of patience during cooking. We will provide a detailed guide on the techniques and tips for making this dish, ensuring you can easily master it and serve a delicious meal.


1.What is Hong Shao Eggplant?

Hong Shao Eggplant (红烧茄子) is a delicious dish featuring eggplant as the main ingredient, originating from the Sichuan region of China. It is a classic vegetarian dish enjoyed by people of all ages.

The cooking process typically involves cutting the eggplant into chunks or pieces, frying it until golden, and then simmering it in a rich sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers. The result is a dish where the eggplant becomes tender and flavorful, absorbing the savory and slightly sweet sauce. Each bite offers a delightful taste, with a deep, satisfying flavor that lingers.


2.How to Choose Fresh Eggplants

When preparing this dish, eggplant is the key ingredient. While there are no strict requirements for the variety of eggplant, selecting fresh ones is crucial. Here are some practical tips for choosing fresh eggplants:

Appearance: Look for eggplants with smooth skin, free from visible damage or blemishes. The color should be vibrant and uniform, avoiding any that have yellow or soft spots.

Touch: Gently press the eggplant; it should feel firm and slightly springy. Avoid those that are overly soft or too hard.

Stem: The stem of the eggplant should be green, indicating freshness.

Weight: When comparing eggplants, choose the heavier ones. They generally have more moisture and a better texture.

Smell: Smell the eggplant; a strong, fresh eggplant aroma usually indicates it is in good condition.


3.How to Cut Eggplant

When preparing Hong Shao Eggplant, it's best to cut the eggplant into long strips. Here’s how to do it:

Cut the Eggplant: Start by slicing the eggplant in half lengthwise. Then, cut each half into two more sections, resulting in four long strips per eggplant.

Prepping the Eggplant: After cutting, sprinkle the eggplant strips with salt. This step helps to remove any bitterness and creates a protective layer on the surface, reducing the eggplant's oil absorption during cooking. This will result in less oil being used and a lighter, less greasy dish.


4.Ingredients

To make Hong Shao Eggplant, you'll need the following ingredients:

Eggplant: The main ingredient, providing fiber and vitamins, is the star of the dish.

Garlic: Adds a rich aroma and flavor, enhancing the overall taste.

Oyster Sauce: Enhances the umami flavor and aroma, making the dish more delicious.

Soy Sauce: Used for seasoning and flavor enhancement, also adds color and depth to the dish.

Green and Red Peppers: Adds color to the dish, improves visual appeal, and can adjust the spiciness.

Sugar: Balances the flavors, adding sweetness to enrich the taste.

Light Soy Sauce: Further enhances flavor and adds a savory depth.

Canola Oil: Used for cooking, adds fat, and enhances the flavor.


5.What to Pair with Hong Shao Eggplant

Rice: Hong Shao Eggplant pairs perfectly with rice. The rice absorbs the rich flavor of the braised sauce, complementing the soft and tender texture of the eggplant for a delicious combination.

Noodles: Pairing Hong Shao Eggplant with noodles creates a variety of textures and layers of flavor. Depending on your preference, you can choose stir-fried noodles, cold noodles, or boiled noodles.

Other Side Dishes: Hong Shao Eggplant also goes well with light green vegetables like broccoli, bean sprouts, or leafy greens, adding color and texture to the meal. Additionally, serving it with dishes like stir-fried shrimp or braised meats can enhance the overall flavor.


6.More Delicious Vegetarian Recipes

Delicious Mung Bean Sprouts Stir-Fry

Stir-Fried Eggplant with Yardlong Beans

Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜)

Stir-Fried Mustard Greens


Now, let’s make this delicious Hong Shao Eggplant together! If you enjoy our recipes, be sure to follow us for more delicious content.

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 500g Eggplant

ACCESSORIES

  • 5g Garlic
  • 5g Ginger
  • 20g Green and Red Bell Peppers

SEASONINGS

  • 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon White Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
  • 5g Canola Oil

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare All Ingredients:

Wash and cut 500g of eggplant into strips.

Wash and slice 20g of small chili peppers and green chili peppers into rings.

Finely chop 5g of ginger and 5g of garlic.

Prepare eggplant, chili peppers, ginger, and garlic for cooking.

STEP 2

Place the eggplant strips in a glass bowl, sprinkle with a little salt, and let them sit to release moisture. Rinse and squeeze out excess water.

Prepare eggplant strips by salting them to release moisture, then rinsing and squeezing out water.

STEP 3

Heat oil in a pan.

Heat oil in a pan.

STEP 4

Add the eggplant and stir-fry until it changes color.

Stir-fry eggplant until color changes.

STEP 5

Add the minced garlic and chopped ginger.

Add minced garlic and chopped ginger for a flavorful touch.

STEP 6

Pour in the soy sauce.

Add soy sauce to the mixture.

STEP 7

Add the oyster sauce.

Instruction to add oyster sauce.

STEP 8

Pour in the dark soy sauce and stir well.

Add dark soy sauce and stir.

STEP 9

Add white sugar to enhance the flavor.

Enhance flavor with white sugar.

STEP 10

Add enough water to cover the eggplant. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and simmer until the eggplant absorbs the flavors.

Boil eggplant in water until absorbed flavors.

STEP 11

Add the sliced chili peppers.

Add sliced chili peppers to the dish.

STEP 12

Stir well to combine, then transfer to a serving dish.

Combine ingredients and transfer to serving dish.

STEP 13

Your delicious Hong Shao Eggplant is ready to enjoy!

Tasty Hong Shao Eggplant ready to eat.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Hong Shao Eggplant(红烧茄子)
  • Main Ingredients:4
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:530 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 530 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):144 kcal
    7%
  • Protein:5.71 g
    10%
  • Fat:1 g Why gray?
    2%
  • Carbohydrates:33.83 g
    14%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 10%
    14 kcal
  • Fat: 6%
    8 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 84%
    121 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
5:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

4 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
CulinaryCanvasHubOctober 08, 2024

My whole family loves this dish, especially the texture of the eggplant.
SavorySensationSeptember 28, 2024

The taste is fantastic, and the flavor of the doubanjiang is very rich!
SpiceSizzleSeptember 14, 2024

This recipe is amazing! The eggplant is incredibly flavorful.
SpiceSavorSeptember 06, 2024

I don’t have doubanjiang; can I substitute it with other seasonings?
reply:
December 31, 1969
You can try using other hot sauces or red pepper powder, but the flavor might be different.
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