Learn how to prepare this delicious recipe with a step-by-step video tutorial.
Ingredients
- - Egg Plants : 1 lb
- - Sugar : 2 tbs
- - Salt : 1 tsp
- - Pepper : 1 tsp
- - Garlic : 1 whole
- - Olive Oil : 3 tbs
- - Ground Pork : 4 oz
- - Rice Vinegar : 3 tbs
- - Soy Sauce : 2 tbs
- - Bay Leaf : 2
Instructions
1 - 1.
2 - Slice 1 lb.
3 - small Japanese or Italian eggplant (about 3) into quarters lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 2"-wide pieces.
4 - Place in a medium bowl.
5 - Add 1 Tbsp.
7 - Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp.
8 - Morton kosher salt, and ½ tsp.
9 - freshly ground black pepper.
10 - Toss to evenly coat eggplant and let sit at room temperature at least 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
12 - Peel and thinly slice 8 garlic cloves.
14 - vegetable oil and half of garlic to a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot.
15 - Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until light golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.
16 - Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic chips to a plate; season lightly with salt.
19 - ground pork in same pot and break up into small pieces with wooden spoon.
21 - Diamond Crystal or Morton kosher salt and cook, undisturbed, until deeply browned underneath, about 5 minutes.
22 - Using a slotted spoon, transfer to another plate, leaving fat behind in the pot.
24 - Place eggplant on a clean kitchen towel and blot away any moisture the salt has drawn out.
26 - Working in batches and adding more oil if needed, cook eggplant in the same pot until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side.
27 - Transfer to a plate with pork.
29 - Pour 1½ cups of water into the pot and scrape up browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon.
30 - Add remaining garlic, 3 Tbsp.
31 - coconut vinegar or unseasoned rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp.
32 - soy sauce, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp.
33 - freshly ground black pepper, and remaining 1 Tbsp.
35 - Bring to a simmer, then return pork and eggplant to pot.
36 - Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer until eggplant is tender and silky and sauce is reduced by half, 20–25 minutes.
37 - Taste and season with more salt and pepper and add a little more sugar if needed.
39 - Top with garlic chips and serve with cooked white rice.
