Spicy and Sweet Eggplant Side Dish (Air-Fried)
Easy Spicy and Sweet Eggplant Side Dish Cooked in an Air Fryer
Eggplant offers endless culinary possibilities! Today, we’re sharing a recipe for a spicy and sweet eggplant side dish, made by utilizing an air fryer to remove excess moisture before a quick sauté with a flavorful seasoning. The result is a delightful texture – slightly chewy on the outside and tender on the inside – and it’s incredibly simple to make, perfect for frequent enjoyment. If you love eggplant, be sure to try this recipe!
Main Ingredients- 2 eggplants
- 30g carrot
- 30g green chili (or scallion)
- 40g onion
- 50g green onion (the white and light green parts)
Spicy and Sweet Seasoning- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp allulose sweetener (or 1 Tbsp sugar)
- 1/2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp allulose sweetener (or 1 Tbsp sugar)
- 1/2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the eggplants thoroughly and pat them dry. Slice them into bite-sized pieces, about 1 cm thick. Avoid slicing them too thinly, as they might break apart during cooking. Prepare them for cooking.
Step 2
Arrange the sliced eggplants in a single layer in your air fryer basket or on a pan, ensuring they don’t overlap. (This recipe utilizes an air fryer specifically for efficient moisture removal, so we’ll proceed with that method.)
Step 3
Julienne the carrot, onion, green chili (or scallion), and green onion into thin strips. Try to match the thickness of the julienned vegetables to the thickness of the eggplant slices for even cooking.
Step 4
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, allulose sweetener (or sugar), gochujang, and minced garlic. Stir well with a spoon to create your seasoning mixture. Ensure the sugar is dissolved.
Step 5
Once the eggplants are prepped, preheat your air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Place the eggplants inside and air fry for approximately 7-10 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your eggplant pieces and the performance of your air fryer. Continue until the eggplants soften and much of their moisture has evaporated.
Step 6
(This step is integrated into the previous step. We are using the air-fried eggplant.)
Step 7
Place the vegetables you’ll be stir-frying with the eggplant (carrot, onion, green chili, green onion) into the air fryer. Air fry them at 180°C (356°F) for about 3 minutes. This step helps to remove excess moisture from the vegetables and improve their texture.
Step 8
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a heated pan. Add the air-fried vegetables and stir-fry them quickly for about 5 seconds to release their aromas.
Step 9
Add the air-fried eggplants to the pan with the stir-fried vegetables and continue to cook together.
Step 10
(This step is integrated into the previous step. We are stir-frying the eggplant and vegetables together.)
Step 11
Pour the pre-made seasoning mixture into the pan. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Once the sauce starts bubbling and foaming, reduce the heat slightly.
Step 12
Gently toss the eggplant, vegetables, and seasoning together to ensure everything is evenly coated. Stir-fry until the sauce thickens slightly. Once the sauce has reduced and coats the ingredients, turn off the heat.
Step 13
Finally, add the chopped green chili (or scallion) and let it cook briefly with the residual heat of the pan. Turn off the heat completely, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and give it one final mix to enhance the flavor and aroma.
Step 14
Transfer the finished spicy and sweet eggplant side dish to a serving plate. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for an appealing finish, if desired.
Step 15
And there you have it – another delicious eggplant dish, our spicy and sweet eggplant side dish, is ready! It’s a perfect side dish for rice or even a flavorful appetizer.
