Spicy Eggplant

Ingredients for Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese black vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons plum sauce

Other Ingredients

  • 4 Chinese eggplants (about 1 pound), stems removed
  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 4 dried whole chile peppers
  • 2 green onions, cut into 2-inch lengths
  • 1/4 pound ground pork
  • Chopped cilantro leaves or sliced green onions

Directions:

  1. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl; mix well.
  2. With a vegetable peeler, remove 1-inch strips of the eggplant skin, leaving a 1-inch strip of skin in between. Cut the eggplant into fourths lengthwise, then cut each section crosswise into 3-inch pieces.
  3. Pour enough oil into a 2-quart saucepan to fill 3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
  4. Deep-fry the eggplant batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on paper towels.
  5. Place wok over a high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon of deep-frying oil and swirl to coat the sides.
  6. Add the garlic, ginger, dried chiles and green onion; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  7. Add ground meat and cook, breaking up pieces with back of a spoon, until brown and crumbly.
  8. Add the sauce and bring to a simmer.
  9. Add the cooked eggplant and stir to coat. Scoop onto a warm serving platter.
  10. Serve, garnished with cilantro or green onions.

This recipe takes about 20 minutes, and serves 4.

Very nice!

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