Chinese restaurant style garlic aubergine
There’s a restaurant in London’s China Town that makes the best Chinese garlic aubergine dish and I’ve been working on trying to replicate it as closely as I can for a while now. This is the result of my efforts and it’s really close! I love Chinese garlic aubergine for its meaty but slippery texture, the flavour-packed sauce and the umami goodness. Steaming the aubergine before stir frying it is absolutely non negotiable! It makes all the difference and that step is crucial. I hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
3 aubergines
2tbsp oyster sauce
1tbsp soy sauce
1tsp gochujang or chilli paste
1/2tsp maple syrup (sugar)
1tsp chilli flakes
5 crushed garlic cloves
1 thumb sized piece of ginger finely chopped
1tsp corn starch
3 spring onions finely chopped
100ml water
2tbsp neutral oil
Method:
Cut the aubergines in half lengthways, then repeat with the halves and cut those pieces widthways into wedges.
Add a generous amount of salt (around 1tbsp) to a bowl of cold water. Add the aubergine pieces, weigh down with a bowl or plate so the aubergine is fully submerged and leave to sit for around 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry. This is an important step that not only removes the bitterness of the aubergine, but also seasons the aubergine from the inside out.
Steam the aubergine in a bamboo steamer or any other steamer you have to hand for 10 minutes. If you don’t own a steamer, place a sieve over a pan of boiling water (make sure the sieve isn’t touching the water) and use this as a steamer.
In a frying pan, fry off the garlic, ginger and spring onion until fragrant.
Whisk together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, chilli flakes, chilli paste, sugar and corn starch and set aside.
Add the aubergine to the garlic, ginger and spring onion mixture and stir fry for a couple of minutes.
Add the sauce and stir fry again before adding the water and leaving to simmer on a low heat for a couple of minutes.
Serve as a side or with rice or egg fried rice for a full and balanced meal!
If you make this Chinese garlic aubergine dish, please tag me in a picture on my Instagram @vegcentrickitchen I’d love to see!