Eggplant is a familiar ingredient to the Vietnamese people and can be used to prepare many delicious dishes. Today, TasteVN will introduce you to 2 extremely simple and quick ways to make crispy fried eggplant that are equally fragrant and appealing. Let’s get cooking and try these 2 fried dishes right away!
1. Crispy Fried Eggplant with Minced Meat Sauce
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Preparation
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Crispy Fried Eggplant with Minced Meat Sauce For 4 people
Eggplant 500 gr (about 2 large pieces) Pork belly 400 gr Chicken eggs 3 pieces Cornstarch 62 gr White wine 1 tablespoon Minced garlic 1 tablespoon Minced ginger 1 tablespoon Chopped green onion 1 tablespoon Pixian broad bean sauce 1 tablespoon (Pixian county bean paste) Chopped chili 1 tablespoon Soy sauce 1 tablespoon Salt 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 220 ml
What is Pixian broad bean sauce?
- Pixian broad bean sauce, also known as Doubangjiang, is a type of spicy, salty sauce originating from Sichuan, China.
- The sauce is made through the fermentation of broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and various spices.
- Pixian is often favored in dishes with tofu, salads, or fried and stir-fried dishes.
- You can find Pixian broad bean sauce at Chinese markets or in large supermarkets and convenience stores.
How to choose good pork
- To make the minced meat sauce fried eggplant dish, you should choose pork belly to ensure the meat is tender and delicious without being dry.
- The color of good pork is bright pink, not too red or too pale. Pork that is pale, has a greenish tint, and smells bad is spoiled, so you should not choose this type of meat.
- Pork that is firm and has high elasticity is good meat. You can test it by pressing your finger into the meat; if it bounces back immediately, is not slimy, and does not leak water or juices, then it is good.
How to prepare Crispy fried eggplant with minced meat sauce
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Prepare the eggplant
Wash the eggplant thoroughly with water and then let it drain.
Cut the eggplant into round slices about 4 – 5cm thick, then use a knife to make zigzag cuts, using a bamboo stick to skewer a vertical line through the piece of eggplant and then stretch the piece of eggplant as shown in the illustration below.
Tip: Cutting the eggplant before frying helps it cook quickly and become crispy, shortening the preparation time, while also giving it an attractive shape.
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Dipping eggplant in flour
Crack 3 eggs into a bowl and beat them, then use a spoon to drizzle the egg over both sides of the eggplant evenly.
Continue to roll the eggplant in a layer of cornstarch, using your hands to sprinkle the flour into the crevices, ensuring the flour coats the eggplant evenly.
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Frying eggplant
Place a pan on the stove, add about 200ml of cooking oil and heat it, then add the floured eggplant and fry over medium heat until the eggplant is golden brown on both sides, then remove and drain the oil.
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Preparing pork
After purchasing the pork belly, you take lemon and salt to rub on the skin. Then, rinse it thoroughly with water and let it drain.
Next, cut the meat into pieces about 2cm thick.
How to clean pork without odor
- To completely remove the smell of pork, before preparing the dish, dip the pieces of meat in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then take them out and rinse with cold water.
- Another handy tip is that you can add a little white wine to the water when blanching the pork. The wine is very effective at eliminating odors.
- Use lemon, vinegar, salt, or ginger to rub on the pork and let it sit for about 5 – 10 minutes before rinsing with water.
See details: Tips for removing odors from various types of meat that women should know
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Stir-fried pork
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and heat it up.
Next, add the pork and stir-fry over medium heat until the meat is just browned, then add 1 tablespoon of white wine, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of minced ginger, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped green onions, and 1 tablespoon of finely chopped chili peppers to the pan, stirring for about 2 minutes for the meat to absorb the spices and the ingredients to become fragrant.
Then, add 5 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt to the pan and stir well, then cook until the sauce comes to a boil.
Finally, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 50ml of water, stir well, then gradually pour it into the sauce pan until the sauce reaches the desired thickness, then turn off the heat.
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Completion
Arrange the fried eggplant on a plate, drizzle the meat sauce on top, and garnish for a nice appearance to complete.
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Final product
The fried eggplant with minced meat sauce is now complete; you can treat your family to this delicious and unique dish. The crispy fried eggplant served with spicy, rich sauce is incredibly enticing.
2. Crispy Eggplant with Sesame
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Preparation
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Crispy Eggplant with Sesame For 4 people
Eggplant 1 piece (large) Breadcrumbs 100 gr White sesame 50 gr Eggs 2 pieces Cooking oil 100 ml Seasoning a little (salt / pepper)
Ingredient Image:
How to Make Crispy Eggplant with Sesame
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Preparing the Eggplant
Soak the eggplant in water mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt for about 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water.
Use a knife to cut the eggplant into round slices, about 2cm thick. Place the eggplant in a bowl, sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of salt, then mix well and marinate for about 30 minutes.
After about 30 minutes, take the eggplant out, place it on a clean cloth, and dry the eggplant.
Tip:
- Marinating the eggplant with salt helps reduce its bitterness, making it crispier and tastier when fried.
- Drying the eggplant before coating with flour and frying helps ensure even coating and prevents oil splatter during frying.
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Mix the flour mixture
Put 100g of bread crumbs and 50g of white sesame into a plate, use a spoon to mix well.
Crack 2 eggs into the plate, then add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, then beat well until the eggs and spices are completely mixed.
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Dip the eggplant in the flour
Dip both sides of the eggplant into the beaten egg mixture, then roll it in the bread crumbs and white sesame.
Tip: If you want the eggplant to be crispier after frying, you can repeat the dipping steps 2 to 3 times.
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Fry the eggplant
Place a pan on the stove, add 100ml of cooking oil and heat it up.
Once the oil is hot, gradually drop each piece of eggplant into the pan and fry over medium heat for about 2 – 3 minutes, then flip and fry for an additional 2 minutes until the eggplant is crispy and golden on both sides, then remove the eggplant and let it drain the oil.
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Final product
Arrange the eggplant on a plate, add fresh lettuce as a side, and decorate for a beautiful presentation. The outer layer is crispy and fragrant with sesame, while the eggplant inside is soft and sweet, making it very appealing. This dish can be enjoyed with chili sauce or ketchup for an amazing taste!
How to choose delicious eggplants
- You should choose eggplants with intact skin, shiny, smooth, and uniformly colored.
- When held, they should feel firm, not too light, with a gentle press not being too hard, and if no liquid seeps out, you can buy them.
- Choose those with the stem still attached on top; if the stem and skin are connected, the eggplant is still fresh.
- You can gently press the eggplant with your hand; if there is an imprint left on the skin, the eggplant is ripe.
How to prepare eggplant without browning
- After buying, peel the eggplant, and soak it in a bowl of cold water containing a mixture of salt and lemon juice or vinegar.
- Use a colander to keep the eggplant fully submerged in water and wait until it’s time to cook to take it out.
- You can sprinkle salt on the surface of the eggplant and leave it for about 1 hour, then use a paper towel dampened with a little water to wipe off the salt and wait to cook. This method helps prevent the eggplant from being bitter when eaten.
- You can choose to keep the skin on the eggplant or not, depending on your preference!
How to store eggplant
- You can wrap the eggplant in a paper towel and store it in the refrigerator’s vegetable compartment for 2 – 3 days.
- Avoid placing eggplants in a sealed bag or near tomatoes, watermelons, or bananas, as they tend to cause eggplants to spoil faster.
Try immediately the recipe for 2 crispy eggplant dishes that TasteVN shares with you to have a rich menu for your family meal. Wishing you delicious meals with your family!
*Refer to images and recipes from 2 YouTube channels: Taste Show and The Cooking Foodie
