Miso-Glazed Japanese Eggplant

I’ve had miso-glazed eggplant when I’m out for dinner and have loved them!

I’ve always seen restaurants using the bigger, Italian style eggplants, but not the thin long Japanese variety that I’ve utilised in this recipe. You can also use Chinese eggplants, which are lighter in colour than the Japanese ones. 

There’s something about this flavour combination that I really like. I love Asian food and have started making more of it at home.

Even though I’m fond of this recipe, I find that I’ll still use ingredients that I can get my hands on easily as well as products that I won’t just use for one speciality dish and let it sit in my fridge or pantry for another few months until I make that dish again.

In my pursuit of being a mindful consumer, it’s only fair that I apply the same practice to food as well.

Being resourceful with what you have

I’ll only buy ingredients that I know I’ll use, rather than taking a risk and trying something too different that may end up accumulating space in my pantry or fridge for months.

So, I used ingredients that I always have in my kitchen to make this glaze for the eggplant. I managed to get it spot on from the first time I made it. I was pretty proud of myself!

Note also that I’ll make this dish mainly in Summer when eggplants are in season and in abundance. Buying seasonally is so important!

Even when buying seasonally, try and buy organic where possible. Avoiding these fruits and vegetables when not organic, and feeling okay buying these when organic isn’t available.

Note that I would avoid the non-organic corn and papaya in that last list linked above.

Miso Glazed Eggplant – super quick and easy to make

I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it was to make this recipe. If you have some cooked rice in the fridge, this recipe is ready in 20 minutes.

I can typically only fit two sliced eggplants in my frying pan at a time, so that’s why it takes a little longer. But if you can fit all three, you can get this done in only around 10 minutes.

If you want something more robust, you can add a green side salad. I love doing a simple baby leaves salad mix and thinly sliced radish and dress it with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Would love for you to leave a comment and rating below. If you want to go that extra mile, tag us on Instagram or share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest. 

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Yield: 2 serves for main or 3 for entree

Miso-Glazed Japanese Eggplant

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Here's a tasty version of the popular miso-glazed eggplant for you to make at home. This recipe is quick, easy, and ready to serve in 15 minutes.

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Ingredients

• 3 Japanese (long) eggplants, cut in half and scaled (cut up inside)
• 2 tbsp frying oil

Glaze:

• 2 tbsp good quality (non-GM soy/organic) dark miso paste
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• 1.5 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp water

Instructions

1. Grill eggplant skin down on the pan, flip after 4-5 minutes and fry on other side.
2. In the meantime, place all glaze ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
3. Plate up the eggplant and smear the miso glaze over each eggplant evenly.
4. Serve on a bed of cooked rice. You can also accompany it with a side salad of greens.

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