Fragrant Eggplant Rice with Refreshing Green Mussel Soup
Simple Yet Special Dish: Eggplant Rice and Green Mussel Soup
Enjoy a delightful meal with just one eggplant! This nutritious eggplant rice is both delicious and healthy. Cooking eggplant with rice adds a wonderful aroma, and serving it with a refreshing green mussel soup completes a satisfying meal.
Eggplant Rice Ingredients- 1 eggplant
- 2 stalks of scallions
- Rice for 2 servings
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
Seasoning Paste Ingredients- 3 stalks of scallions
- 1 handful of chives
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Soy sauce (enough to moisten ingredients)
- 3 stalks of scallions
- 1 handful of chives
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Soy sauce (enough to moisten ingredients)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a pot or rice cooker, heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over low heat. Finely chop 2 stalks of scallions and add them to the oil. Slowly sauté the scallions until fragrant, creating a delicious scallion-infused oil. Cook until the scallions are softened and their sweetness and aroma have infused the oil.
Step 2
Wash the eggplant, trim off the ends, and cut it into thick half-moon slices. Add the sliced eggplant to the pot with the fragrant scallion oil. Pour in 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and stir-fry over medium heat, being careful not to burn the eggplant. Cook until the eggplant is slightly softened and has absorbed the soy sauce seasoning.
Step 3
Once the eggplant is lightly browned and tender, proceed to the next step.
Step 4
Rinse 2 servings of rice thoroughly. Reduce the usual amount of water by about 20% to ensure the rice cooks up fluffy and slightly firm. (For example, if you normally use 2 cups of water, use about 1.6 cups).
Step 5
Arrange the sautéed eggplant slices attractively over the drained rice in your rice cooker. Press the ‘cook’ button and let the rice cooker prepare your delicious eggplant rice. Use the standard ‘cook’ setting.
Step 6
While the rice is cooking, prepare the flavorful seasoning paste to mix with the rice. This vibrant sauce will elevate the taste of your eggplant rice with its blend of fresh ingredients and spices.
Step 7
Finely chop the remaining scallions and chives and place them in a bowl. Add 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds, and 2 tablespoons of gochugaru. Pour in enough soy sauce to moisten all the ingredients – aim for a consistency where the ingredients are well-coated but not swimming in liquid.
Step 8
Mix all the seasoning paste ingredients thoroughly with a spoon. Adjust the soy sauce if needed; you want a slightly thick paste, not a watery sauce. A drizzle of sesame oil at the end will enhance the aroma and flavor.
Step 9
Next, let’s prepare the refreshing and savory green mussel soup. Start by making a generous amount of dashi (anchovy and kelp stock).
Step 10
Thaw the frozen green mussels. Clean them by removing any grit from the shells and trim them so only half the shell remains attached to the mussel meat. The mussels themselves are naturally salty, so you likely won’t need to add extra salt to the soup. Strain the liquid released from the mussels through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any impurities, then mix this clear liquid with your dashi stock.
Step 11
While you were making the seasoning paste and mussel soup, your fragrant eggplant rice is perfectly cooked! Carefully open the rice cooker to reveal the steaming, delicious rice.
Step 12
Serve the cooked eggplant rice generously into individual bowls. Topping with a freshly fried egg makes it even more appealing. Serve the prepared seasoning paste on the side for mixing into the rice, creating a truly delightful eggplant rice bowl.
Step 13
Eggplant rice is always a satisfying dish! It becomes an even more special meal when paired with this refreshing mussel soup. A truly special meal doesn’t have to be complicated; enjoying something you’ve made with care is the real definition of a special treat!
