Eggplant and century eggs — my constant craving.
Either it’s cultural or genetic, I love stinky sulphuric flavors in my food: Indian black salt, Taiwanese stinky tofu, Japanese natto, Korean doenjang, Norwegian lutefisk, Limburger, lapsang souchong. Washed rind cheeses have been my favorite Christmas gift for the last thirty years. Don’t judge me, I am good with durian.
Once, on July 4th, when our neighbors were firing up their BBQ stations, I joined a local Bangladeshi community on a quest for the perfect jackfruit — but that’s a whole another story.
Only a few restaurants in our area serve this eggplant/egg mix and I have always been willing to travel to where there are communities that make it best. Not any more — now, I make it myself.
WHAT WENT IN
— 6 Japanese eggplants, cut in three sections, each section halved
— 1/2-1 cup rice vinegar
— neutral oil
— 3-4 scallions, chopped
— 1/2-1 bunch cilantro, leaves and stems, chopped
— 5 gloves of garlic, crushed
— 3-5 Thai Dragon peppers, minced
— 1 Tbsp light soy sauce
— 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce
— 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
— 1 tsp sesame oil
— 3 Tbsp neutral oil with high smoking point
— 3 century eggs
THE PROCESS
1. Soak eggplant pieces in vinegar. Shake the vinegar and lightly coat the pieces with oil.
2. Eggplant can be roasted — 20 min at 450°F, steamed — 15 min, or microwaved — 7-10 min. For this particular version, I prefer steaming or microwaving because — skin texture.
3. Meanwhile, in a heatproof bowl, pile in layers scallions, cilantro, garlic, peppers, soy sauces, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.
4. In a small pan, heat neutral oil until undoubtedly smoking. Pour the smoking oil over the piled ingredients. Sink is the best place to do it because — splatters.
5. Slice, chop, or mash the century eggs and mix them into the oily dressing.
6. Flake the eggplant into thin strands and fold them in.
I know, I know — this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Anyway, off to get more eggplant.
#food #cooking #chinesefood