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After tons of requests, here's an eggplant stir-fry recipe! The sauce is flavoured with Thai chili paste and scented with lots of Thai basil. I also show you my new favourite eggplant technique for stir-frying that'll come in handy in any eggplant stir-fry recipe! The eggplant in this recipe becomes so juicy and succulent, and absorbs all that wonderful sauce. Change up the chicken and try adding pork or crumbled firm tofu instead.
A must-try for any eggplant lovers in your life!!
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All my recipes come with step-by-step video tutorials with extra tips not mentioned in the blog post, so make sure you watch the video below to ensure success - and if you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you!
Eggplant w/ Basil & Chili Paste Stir-Fry มะเขือยาวผัดพริกเผา
- Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Thai chili paste
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 2 tsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
The Rest
- 275 g Chinese or Japanese eggplant (about 1 large or 2 small), sliced on a bias about 0.5-inch thick, then halve each round
- 4 cloves garlic
- Red Thai chilies, to taste (use at least 3, bigger ones if you can. Take the seeds out to reduce spiciness)
- 200 g ground chicken (or sub ground pork or crumbled firm tofu)
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves
- Have a little water on the ready while you cook
Instructions
- Combine all sauce ingredients together and whisk until the chili paste is dissolved.
- Pound chilies and garlic in a mortar and pestle until there are no more big chunks (but not a fine paste). You can also chop them.
- In a large, flat skillet, add just enough oil to coat the bottom, then heat until quite hot but not smoking. Add the eggplant in one layer (you may need to do this in batches) and let sear over medium high heat, undisturbed, until the bottom side is browned. Flip and cook the other side until it is browned as well. The pieces from the bottom of the eggplant will cook faster, so you will need to remove those first. Transfer into a bowl and set aside.
- In a wok, add a little bit of oil and the pounded garlic and chili mixture. Saute for about 1 minute over medium heat just until the garlic starts to brown.
- Add ground chicken and cook until 80% done, adding a splash of water to loosen the chicken as needed.
- Add the eggplant and the sauce, then keep tossing for about 2-3 minutes until the eggplant is fully cooked but not mushy. Add the basil, turn off the heat, then toss for 30 more seconds using the residual heat to wilt the basil.
- Serve with rice. Enjoy!
Michelle
Favorite dish in my household! I’ve tried out many variation of this recipe online, but this one tastes the most authentic in my opinion. I also added more vegetable to create volume (Chinese long beans, onion, sliced carrots, and bell peppers). Showed this to my family and now my dad and husband makes it weekly.
★★★★★
Kal
I made this came out great...did not have the sweeter "Chilli Paste with Soya Bean Oil". I used a chinese chilli garlic sauce and added sugar should have added some tamarind. The link for this sauce gives a product with a different label (made by same company) Mae Pranom Thai Chili Paste (Nam Prik Pao) 4 Oz. X 1 Jar. Is this the same as what you are using in the viideo?
Allie
This recipe is so amazing! I’ve made it atleast a dozen times now. I’ve added it to my regular meal rotation and shared it with countless friends. Thank you so much! 😊 🙏
★★★★★
Ian
Eggplant has never been my favorite veg, but this recipe casts eggplant in a whole new light. Subbed extra tofu I had instead of ground pork and it was great.
★★★★★
Alyssa
I've made this so many times now, it's better than most restaurants! I now make the homemade chili paste in bulk to have on hand. After that, everything comes together so quickly. Thanks a million, this is easily a favorite!
★★★★★
Paige
Every time I can get Chinese eggplant, we make this. So easy and delicious!
★★★★★