Spicy Chinese Eggplant

[serene]

Wow, this was good. I made it up as I went along. I'm trying the various chili peppers at my local produce store, and let me tell you, two tiny Thai chilis go a *long* way. It didn't eat the lining out of my mouth or anything, but it was definitely spicy, and if I were feeding people who aren't spicy-food fans, I might've halved or quartered the amount of chilis.

Spicy Chinese Eggplant

peanut oil for stir-frying
1/2 onion, sliced
1 lb. or so of Chinese or Japanese eggplant
1/2 bag Morningstar Crumbles
1/2 cup or more (to taste) vegetarian oyster sauce
2 Thai chilis, minced
soy sauce and garlic to taste

Cut the stem ends off the eggplant. Cut them into pieces similar to the size/shape of carrot sticks -- not really small, but longish rectangular pieces. Set aside. (If you want to use Italian eggplant for this, or the thin Asian ones aren't available, you may want to salt the eggplant, let it rest for 1/2 hour, then rinse and pat dry.)

Heat a wok or skillet on high. Add peanut oil and fry the onions until they're soft and starting to brown. Take them out and set them aside.

Next, stir-fry the eggplant, using more oil if necessary and 1/4 cup of water. Once the water burns off, be careful that the eggplant doesn't scorch -- you may want to turn the heat down a little.

Add the chilis, stir-fry until the eggplant is soft and no longer bright purple, and set aside with the onions.

Add 1/4-1/2 cup water to the wok and put in the Crumbles and oyster sauce. (I added a tablespoon of soy sauce and a tablespoon of leftover roasted elephant garlic that was sitting in olive oil in the fridge.) Cook crumbles on medium heat until most of the liquid is gone, then add the vegetables back in. Stir and serve over rice or noodles. (I used sticky white rice, and it was really good.)

Comments

Mmmmmm

[sogwife.livejournal.com]

Make that for me sometime, chile quotient intact?

Re: Mmmmmm

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Sure! And Munchkin the Elder wants to know how Dude is. :-) Also, zie likes the paint job on the table. Also, zir first words after seeing the square of fabric on the lamp were "Ooh, I can make a pillow out of this for you if you want." Also, I was feeling sad today because I won't see you until after xmas. Also, I'm obviously too tired to be posting to LJ. Good thing I only have an hour left on my batteries. :-)

Re: Mmmmmm

[sogwife.livejournal.com]

Dude is fat and happy, and somewhat confused by the dog dropping her toy in front of him. Poor puppy just wants her friend to play with her. :)

I'm glad the table meets with zie's approval. Such a sweet nibling.

I miss you awful lots. I won't get to see you for over a week still, and it's already been over a week. Pout!

I'll stop being smoofy in public, now. Ah, PDAs...;)

Re: Mmmmmm

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Public, schmublic. *suh-moooooooooOOOOoooooooooch*!