Melt-in-Your-Mouth Grilled Eggplant with Savory Filling
The Ultimate Eggplant Dish: Perfectly Grilled & Steamed Eggplant Recipe
I absolutely adore grilled eggplant. Its incredibly tender texture and subtly sweet flavor make it seem like the best ingredient in the world. This recipe transforms simple eggplant into a delightful dish.
Main Ingredients
- 5 medium eggplants
- 50-100g ground beef or pork (optional, delicious without meat too!)
- 1/3 stalk spring onion, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
Meat Marinade
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (optional)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Here are the ingredients for today’s delightful dish. I had some ground beef at home, but ground pork works wonderfully too. You can even omit the meat entirely for a delicious vegetarian version! We’ll be using 5 plump, medium-sized eggplants.
Step 2
First, let’s prepare the meat filling. In a bowl, gently mix the ground meat with 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, a pinch of black pepper, and 1 Tbsp of cooking wine (if using). This initial marination helps to tenderize the meat and remove any gamey flavors. (This is a separate seasoning for the meat, distinct from the main sauce.)
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the star ingredient: the eggplant. Instead of scooping out the insides, we’ll keep all the wonderful flesh intact – why waste any of that goodness! Simply make a deep slit lengthwise down the middle of each eggplant. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
Step 4
Gently open up the slit in the eggplant and generously stuff it with the marinated meat mixture. Don’t overstuff it so much that the filling spills out easily; a good, even filling is key.
Step 5
Next, let’s whisk together the delicious sauce. In a small bowl, combine 4 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp plum extract, 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds. Mix well until everything is thoroughly combined, creating a rich, flavorful sauce.
Step 6
Now for the cooking! Place a lidded frying pan over medium heat. Add about 3 Tbsp of cooking oil. It’s crucial to maintain a medium heat; high heat will just burn the eggplant. Gentle, steady heat is best for cooking the eggplant through to a perfect tenderness.
Step 7
Arrange the stuffed eggplants in the preheated pan, as shown in the picture. Begin to brush the sauce generously over the eggplants, focusing on the areas around the meat filling. You should use all of the prepared sauce across the 5 eggplants to ensure they are perfectly seasoned.
Step 8
Cover the frying pan with the lid and let the eggplants simmer over medium-low heat. As they cook, the eggplants will release their natural moisture, and the steam will help them become incredibly tender. While they might get slightly browned at the bottom from the oil and juices, they shouldn’t burn if the heat is kept moderate. Keep an eye on the heat to prevent burning.
Step 9
By carefully adjusting the heat to medium-low and allowing them to cook, you’ll achieve wonderfully tender and flavorful grilled eggplants. Avoid overcooking them to a mushy texture. Periodically check to ensure they aren’t sticking too much or burning. Sprinkle the chopped spring onions over the top towards the end of cooking for a fresh garnish. Once perfectly cooked, transfer the eggplant to a serving dish, making sure to spoon over any delicious sauce and juices that remain in the pan. Enjoy your delicious creation!
