Criss-cross Pan-fried Eggplant
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Author Notes: This recipe was almost called “Don’t Burn the Garlic Eggplant.” That is the most consistent ‘technique’ I’ve learned from my lovely mom about cooking. However, this week’s theme was a great opportunity for me to finally get this recipe that has a technique I always associate with her cooking. As a child, I remember watching my mom cutting a criss-cross pattern in the eggplant every time she made this dish. My mom says it helps the eggplant cook evenly and also let’s the flavors of the other ingredient absorb into the flesh. She wrote out most of this recipe. There are many other don’ts in this: Don’t add water. Don’t cover the pan. Don’t cut the chili peppers if you use them. When I tried her recipe as it is written below, I was thrilled it turned out almost just like hers…almost, of course, because nothing will ever be as good as Mom’s. - monkeymom
Serves 4
- 1 1/2 pound Chinese or Japanese eggplant (about 4 large)
- 4-6 ounces pork (boneless country ribs, ground pork, or pork tenderloin all work fine. This can also be omitted if you want this to be vegetarian)
- 2 green onions, sliced thinly
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4-5 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ~1/2 cups vegetable oil
- optional: For a spicy dish, 1-2 whole green fresh Serrano chili peppers, 1-2 dried whole red peppers, or 1-2 Tbsp of hot chili oil.
- Cut the pork into small thin pieces and add 3 Tbsps of the soy sauce, the white pepper, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Mix well. Marinate while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Wash and cut eggplants to about 3 inches long, and then slice each piece in half.
- Score each half ¼ inch deep on the skin side diagonally every 1/2 in. Then score perpendicular to the first set of score marks making a criss-cross pattern.
- Use a 12-inch nonstick frying pan. Heat the pan to medium. Add 3 Tbsps of cooking oil. Place half of the eggplants on the pan, purple skin side up. Don’t overlap. Sprinkle ¼ tsp salt on the eggplants. Check often. The eggplant will absorb the oil quickly, but it is okay. If the eggplant appears to be getting too dark and not softening, turn down the heat a bit. Turn the eggplants over when well-browned and softened slightly.
- Fry the purple skin side and sprinkle another ¼ tsp salt on the eggplant again. Fry the eggplants until it is softened and browned. Don’t cover the pan or add any water. Remove the browned eggplants to a plate. They should be slightly softened, but not falling apart. Repeat browning the other half of the eggplants as above and remove to same plate when done.
- In the same frying pan, heat 1 tablespoonful of cooking oil. (If you want the eggplant dish spicy, you can add the whole green or dried red chili peppers now. Stir fry them briefly to let them release their heat to the oil. Discard them. As an alternative, you can add purchased chili oil instead.) Add green onion and garlic. Stir them. Don’t burn them. Add marinated pork and brown them. (If doing a vegetarian version, mix up the marinade ingredients and add them here.)
- Put browned soft eggplants back into the pan. Sprinkle brown sugar and 1 Tbsp of soy sauce over the eggplants and mix well. Gently stir-fry them in the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes until eggplants are softened enough to your desired texture. Taste and season with additional soy sauce, sugar, or salt as needed. Don’t cover the pan.
- My mom says “Remove your delicious eggplants to a beautiful plate and enjoy it with your family or friends.” Serve hot.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for The Best Recipe or Technique Your Mother Taught You
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9 months ago Hloper
I made this tonight with a Serrano chile for heat, and used pork loin. I will make it again but will use the smaller amount of soy, rather than five tbs, which to our taste was too salty. I will up the sweet, slightly, and double the garlic, which I actually added as the meat was finishing browning. Because I had it, I also added some julienned red bell pepper which made the dish very pretty, and some fresh ginger, but not enough to truly flavor. I will add more of that too! I sprinkled chopped green onions and cilantro on top, and served with sticky rice. Though the recipe says it serves four, my husband and I had no trouble polishing off every bit. Thanks for the technique. will make again! oh yes, I too added water, but at the end because I wanted a bit more sauce, and that worked out beautifully, without adding any additional cornstarch.
about 1 year ago NakedBeet
Hi! I made a vegetarian version of this and used a regular stainless pan because it's large enough to hold the quantity of eggplant I'm making, so I did have to use just a little water after the eggplants browned to get them to unstick a bit. What is the thinking in your recipe behind not using water? I found that the flavor in my dish was still very good and not diluted.
almost 2 years ago monkeymom
My mom and I are so happy to have so many great cooks enjoying this dish! I love to hear the additions as well. Thanks for the nice comments!
almost 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
I make this at least twice a month. When the Japanese eggplant are particularly beautiful and plentiful, it's on our table even more often. The other night I made it with shrimp. Delicious!! Easily, this is one of my favorite recipes on food52. Please thank your dear mother for me, and for my sons and Mr. T., again. ;o)
almost 2 years ago jessf
I made this dish a month ago with beautiful eggplants from the farmers market. I will make it again tonight for my dad who if visiting from out of town. Thanks to you and your mom for such a great recipe.
almost 2 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I am picking eggplant like crazy - I will be making this often this summer!!!!
about 2 years ago healthierkitchen
Monkeymom - these are incredible! I've been meaning to make these forever and finally did last night. So delicious - like the restaurant dish but even better! My daughter and her friend just loved the flavor. Thanks so much and Happy Mother's Day to you and your Mom
about 2 years ago monkeymom
Yay! So glad you all liked it. Happy belated Mom's day to you too!
about 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
monkeyman, please thank your mother, from me, for this amazing recipe. I made it again tonight, this time with ground pork. Oh, just to die for! It's one of our favorite dinners. Tell your mother that I've made it at least twelve times, probably more, since you posted it, and every time, it gets rave reviews. ;o)
about 2 years ago monkeymom
So happy that you are enjoying this! My mom is very happy to share it with you. It is my favorite!
over 2 years ago iuzzini
This looks sooooooooo appealing! I can't wait to make it this week! Thanks!
over 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
It is good! It's one of the best recipes on the site. I bought some Japanese eggplants just yesterday, to make this again within the next few days. You will love it. Be sure to use a non-stick skillet, and follow the instructions exactly, to the letter. Sensational!! ;o)
over 2 years ago luvcookbooks
Meg is a trusted home cook.
making this soon in its vegetarian version, thank goodness for the view comments on the side that helps you find great new recipes.
over 2 years ago monkeymom
Hope you guys like it! It's on regular rotation in our house :) I'm so glad you like it AJ!
over 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
I'm actually making this again, tonight! (Will use chicken, as that's what I have on hand . . . .) Just love this recipe. One of my top ten, easily, from my year on food52, and I try a lot of the recipes here!!
over 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Made this again, using sweet, just-picked Chinese eggplants from our Asian farmers' market (downtown Oakland on Fridays). So delicious! I used chicken thigh meat instead of pork. I could eat this every week. ;o)
almost 3 years ago melissav
Finally got around to making this after eyeballing it for months. It was worth the wait . . . delicious. Two of us ate the whole mess of it - it was that good. Thanks!
over 2 years ago monkeymom
So glad you like it!! Thanks for letting me know, mom was so happy to hear that other folks are trying it out.
almost 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
We made this over the weekend. First, your instructions are perfect. Second, and more important, the finished product was a huge hit, even among those who generally don't care much for eggplant. We used a large non-stick skillet, and very little oil, so the eggplant wasn't greasy at all, as it often is in restaurants. I used exactly the same method, by the way (minus the criss crosses) to prepare some Blue Lake beans and chicken, also with excellent results. Two thumbs up!! This one is a real keeper. ;o)
almost 3 years ago monkeymom
AJ, I'm so happy you all liked it! I'll have to try it with beans and chicken, sounds delicious. I'm glad to hear you used little oil too with success. I'm hungry now!
about 3 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Please give your mom a GIANT hug from me ... I made this last night for dinner - didn't cover the pan, didn't add water, didn't burn the garlic - and it was SO GOOD. I didn't remove to a beautiful plate, just piled it all on my plate and ate it up ...
about 3 years ago monkeymom
How awesome! She will be thrilled!
about 2 years ago CASJ
and why wasn't this on the menu last week???
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
Oh my...looks like my favorite Chinese restaurant dish is now within reach!!! The picture looks so so good and your mom is so cute!
about 3 years ago monkeymom
Thanks WinnieAb! This is one of my favorites at restaurants too!
about 3 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
That's what I was thinking! I always order this dish, and can't wait to try it at home. Thanks for this great recipe. Say hi to your mom, she's just adorable.
about 3 years ago monkeymom
Thanks MrsWheelbarrow! I sent her the link and she said it was so great to see such nice comments posted.
about 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Love this recipe! Have always wanted to know how to make this . . . so many great tips, especially all the "Don'ts"!!! Love the photos, too! ;o)
about 3 years ago monkeymom
Thanks AntoniaJames! The tips are key...before having this recipe I've tried to do this and always ruined it by doing just those things like covering the pan, etc. It's great to finally be able to make it myself!
about 3 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
This sounds awesome. And mom is so cute! I bet she's a great cook, like you!
about 3 years ago monkeymom
Ah, you are so nice! She is a spectacular cook, I'm not even in the same league. Maybe someday!
about 3 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Your mom is adorable! This recipe sounds wonderful, I can't to try it!
about 3 years ago monkeymom
:) she is cute...and bossy. Just kidding. Let me know how it turns out if you do try it.