Japanese eggplant, also known as Asian eggplant or slender eggplant, is a long, thin, purple-hued eggplant variety. It’s different from the common “globe” eggplant in several ways. Japanese eggplants are commonly used in Asian cuisine, particularly in stir-fries and side dishes. I’ve been playing around with them recently, and here are some of the best Japanese Eggplant Recipes I’ve found.
What is Japanese Eggplant?
Japanese eggplant has a slightly sweeter flavor than globe eggplants, plus a thinner skin and more tender flesh. However, the biggest way in which they vary is in their shape. They are long and thin, and contain far fewer seeds than regular eggplant. The lack of seeds also makes them less bitter, meaning they’re a good option for people who are sensitive to the slight bitterness of globe eggplants.
1. Stir-Fried Japanese Eggplant with Garlic and Ginger
This recipe really showcases the vegetable at its best. With just a few other ingredients to bring out its flavor, the garlic and ginger really makes it shine.
Recipe by: Flavor Feed
2. Grilled Eggplant Pomegranate Salad
I revisited this recipe recently to try it out with Japanese eggplants. They worked so well, and the extra sweetness really brought out the flavor of the pomegranate arils. Don’t skip the feta, you really need the creamy saltiness to round it out.
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
3. Soy Glazed Eggplant Donburi
Namiko Chen is the online queen of English-language Japanese recipes. She’s got a few eggplant recipes up her sleeve, and this is probably my favorite one. Like so much contemporary Japanese food, it hits the perfect balance between sweet and savory.
Recipe by: Just One Cookbook
4. Nasu Agebitashi
A Japanese classic: in agebitashi recipes, vegetables are fried and then soaked in a sweetened dashi stock. This recipe uses that technique with eggplant, yielding a light and pleasant side dish for rice or meat.
Recipe by: Chopstick Chronicles
5. Miso Glazed Eggplant
You can make this recipe with regular eggplants as well, but I think it’s best with the slender Japanese variety. The vegetables are simply grilled with a miso glaze and sprinkled with sesame.
Recipe by: Pickled Plum
6. Infinite Eggplant
Recipe writer Yumiko says she named this recipe “infinite” because it’s so good, you could eat it forever. That sounds about right to me! With a vinegar soy marinade and just a little chili to spice things up, it is insanely good.
Recipe by: Recipe Tin Eats
7. Eggplant Stir-Fry with Garlic
In this vegan Japanese eggplant recipe, the vegetables are cut into short lengths and sautéed with garlic and a few other basic ingredients. The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts!
Recipe by: Vancouver with Love
8. Roasted Japanese Eggplant with Tahini
A decidedly Mediterranean flavor for the Japanese vegetable with the addition of tahini, parsley and lemon juice. Nutritionist Abby goes into the health profile in detail in her blog, but it’s the taste that’s the greatest winner.
Recipe by: Abby Langer Nutrition
9. Crispy Japanese Eggplant with Harissa
This dish cuts the Japanese eggplants into rounds, before breading with panko bread crumbs and frying. A tomato salsa, plus tzatziki sauce completes the picture, for a fresh-tasting fusion dish. Unusual and excellent.
Recipe by: Rana’s Recipe
10. Nigerian Eggplant Stew
Recipe writer Abi swaps out green African eggplants for a milder flavored variety. Matched with smoked mackerel and plenty of spice, this is a powerful and punchy stew.
Recipe by: Eat Well Abi
11. Mapo Eggplant
The perfect one-bowl dinner, mapo eggplant is rich and savory, using a spicy fermented bean paste to boost the flavor. Japanese eggplant is the perfect vehicle to soak up that rich sauce.
Recipe by: Omnivore’s Cookbook
12. Oyaki
These little Japanese eggplant dumplings are delicious and extremely moreish. Stuffed with eggplant and sweet, they are fried and steamed at the same time, giving the dough a great chewy texture.
Recipe by: Japanese Taste
13. Vegan Unagi Don
This clever recipe uses slender eggplants to make a vegan alternative to Japanese unagi – eel. Glazed with a sweet soy dressing, the grilled vegetables make an excellent substitute for ethical consumers wanting to avoid eating endangered eels.
Recipe by: Okonomi Kitchen
14. Grilled Eggplant in Sweet Chili Sauce
Incredibly easy to make, this recipe lightly grills Japanese eggplants, lets them steam and then tosses them with a sweet chili sauce. It can be used as either a side dish or a condiment.
Recipe by: Let the Baking Begin
15. Eggplant with Thai Basil and Chicken
A deeply fragrant stir-fry recipe with chicken, this technique uses a dry-fry method to cut down on the amount of oil in the dish. It’s not oil-free, but it’s certainly not swimming in oil like so many stir-fries are. Really tasty.
Recipe by: The Woks of Life
16. Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad
Back in the Med, this salad opts for Japanese eggplants because they cook so quickly. After grilling, the tender veggies are mixed with tomatoes and chickpeas for a hearty and fresh summer salad.
Recipe by: Veggies Save the Day
Conclusion
Have you come to love eggplant as much as I do? In that case, you’ve got to try out one of these Japanese Eggplant Recipes, which really gives the vegetable a chance to shine! Even people who think they hate eggplant are often won over by the tender flesh and milder flavor with no trace of bitterness remaining. Let me know in the comments how you get on.
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