Sichuan fried eggplant

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 pounds Eggplant
2 cups Peanut oil; for deep-frying
¼ cup All-purpose flour Water
¼ teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Peanut oil
3 tablespoons Finely chopped scallions
1 tablespoon Finely chopped fresh ginger
2 teaspoons Chili bean sauce
⅔ cup Stock (chicken or vegetable)
2 tablespoons Rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar OR- cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Tomato paste
2 teaspoons Sugar
2 tablespoons Dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon Cornstarch; mixed with: Water

Directions

BATTER

SAUCE

Cut the eggplant into thin 1-½-inch by 3-inch slices. Do not peel them.

For the batter mix the flour, water, and salt together in a small bowl, then strain through a fine sieve. Let rest for about 20 minutes.

For the sauce, heat a wok or large frying-pan until hot and add the 1 tablespoon of oil. Put in the scallions, ginger, and chili bean sauce and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Then add the stock, rice wine, vinegar, tomato paste, sugar, and soy sauce and continue to cook for 1 minute. Thicken the sauce with the blended cornstarch and cook another minute. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer or large wok until quite hot. Dip the slices of eggplant into the batter, let the excess batter drip off, then deep-fry. You may have to do this in several batches.

Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain well on paper towel.

Arrange the eggplant slices on a serving platter, pour the sauce over and serve.

Source: Asian Vegetarian Feast - by Ken Hom William Morrow and Company, Inc. - New York ISBN: 0-688-07753-6 Typed for you by Karen Mintzias

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