Easy Microwave Steamed Eggplant Salad
How to Make Steamed Eggplant Salad with a Microwave: A Quick and Delicious Recipe
On hot days, dishes that don’t require using the stove are the best! This recipe uses the microwave for everything from #steamingeggplant to making a #eggplantsalad, a perfect #eggplantdish, and an easy #howtomakeeggplantsalad. The seasonings are simple, and the #microwavesteamedeggplant is so delicious, it disappears quickly with a bowl of rice. It’s also great as a #dieteggplantdish or a simple #eggplantbanchan. If steaming with a steamer, it takes about 4-5 minutes after the water starts boiling, but this can vary depending on your stove’s heat and the amount of eggplant. You can test a piece and adjust the time for your desired texture.
Main Ingredients- 3 eggplants
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onion
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (or tuna extract)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds (ground)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce for soup (guk-ganjang)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (or tuna extract)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds (ground)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
It’s best to choose fresh eggplants. Look for ones that are plump, shiny, and have a vibrant color. (The eggplants I used today were slightly imperfect from a delivery service, but they taste great!) First, rinse the eggplants thoroughly under running water until they squeak clean.
Step 2
Cut the rinsed eggplants into bite-sized pieces. If you cut them too small, they might get mushy while steaming, so aim for a size that’s easy to eat in one bite.
Step 3
Place the cut eggplant into a microwave-safe plastic bag. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes. Carefully remove, check the tenderness, flip the eggplant over, and microwave for another 2 minutes. You want the eggplant to be tender but still slightly firm (al dente) for the best texture in the salad. Cooking time may vary depending on your microwave’s wattage.
Step 4
Once the eggplant is steamed, let it cool slightly. Tear larger pieces by hand into manageable strips. Add the chopped green onions to the torn eggplant and mix.
Step 5
Now it’s time to add the seasonings. Mix in the red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and soy sauce for soup. You can use regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) instead, but I prefer the cleaner taste of soy sauce for soup.
Step 6
Add the fish sauce (or tuna extract) for a boost of umami flavor. Grind the sesame seeds and add them, followed by the sesame oil for a nutty aroma.
Step 7
Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients to the eggplant and green onions. Gently toss everything together, being careful not to mash the eggplant. Once mixed, taste and adjust the seasoning if needed by adding a little salt or more soy sauce for soup. Your delicious eggplant salad is ready!
Step 8
This is the easy microwave-steamed eggplant salad. It’s incredibly convenient to make without turning on the stove, especially on hot summer days, and the slightly chewy texture makes it a wonderfully tasty side dish.
Step 9
Eggplant is a great diet food, being low in calories and having a high water content (94%). The purple skin is rich in anthocyanins, which have antioxidant properties, can help lower cholesterol, and are thought to have anti-cancer effects. Eggplant is also a good source of iron and calcium, beneficial for preventing osteoporosis and aiding in inflammation relief. It’s a wonderfully healthy vegetable, and luckily, it’s also quite affordable, making it easy to incorporate into your diet frequently.
