1/4 cup tamari
2 tbsp loosely packed cilantro (coriander, or chinese
1 parsley) leaves
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 med. cloves garlic, smashed and pee, led
3/8 oz peeled fresh ginger (1 by 1/4 piece, cut
1 crosswise into 1/4 inch slices
4 medium sized (2 oz. each) chinese eggplant, s *
Directions
* (here they call them Japanese - the small skinny light purple or
lavender ones)
Combine all ingredients EXCEPT EGGPLANT in a blender or processor.
Process until smooth. Prick th eggplants several times with a fork
and pull off the leaves. Cut in half lengthwise. On the open side of
each half make three deep diagonal slashes in each direction. Place
eggplants skin side down in a 13x9x2 oval dish.
Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons of the marinade over each eggplant half. Rub
into flesh so that it runs into the cuts. Turn eggplants skin side
up. Pour remaining marinade into the dish. Let stand 45 minutes.
Turn eggplants skin side down. Cover tightly with microwave plastic
wrap. Cook at high power for 10 minutes. Prick plastic to release
steam. Remove, uncover, spoon sauce over eggplants. Serve as side
dish. Recommended with grilled fish steak or chicken breast (of
course I'd baste that with a soy based marinade).
I may try this over a wok steamer rather than in the microwave.
WHICH REMINDS ME: Stephen, I love a dish which I have seen referred
to as Yu Shaing Eggplant. Based on a Yu Shaing sauce. Which is, to
some extent, translated as fish sauce (I know the yu or ju is fish)
not made from it but to go with it, I gather. It is certainly not
nuoc mam but I don't know if it contains it. It is rather hot and by
flavor I would guess it comes from the northern provinces - perhaps
NE end of China. I have also had it with fresh pork strings.
Glorious. Do you have any idea what it is or a recipe??? I have been
unable to find it anywhere in my Chinese library. The restaurant
where I eat it is not one to give recipes or ingredients to
non-Chinese (if they'd give it to the Chinese. The place is popular
with the newer Chinese community here. (The old timers are all
Cantonese and so well integrated that they probably consider red
beans and rice their dish).
Servings: 6 servings
Asian Marinated Eggplant Recipe brought to you by Recipe Ideas
Categories: Eggplant; Vegetable
The History of Recipes
It is actually possible to trace the history of recipes back into the distant past, in truth as far as the Egyptians, and maybe further still. In practice though, sadly, these old cookbooks were just primitive pictorial instructions for preparing meals.
The truth of the matter is, the most ancient recipe discovered so far, according to experts in ancient history are a few tablets in the Sumerian language which show the making of bread which is then used to make a drink, quite possibly a form of beer as it is recorded as having made people feel wonderful and blissful. As we move on, there are two interesting cookery books from the 14th Century : a book published under the title `Forme of Cury`, and another called `Curye on Inglish`. The titles are a little misleading though, these books are unconnected to the curry that appears on menues today, but instead descriptions of the types of meals enjoyed by the upper classes of that period. Later, in the fifteenth century, the Crusaders brought back many new foods, spices and herbs from middle-east cuisine, including parsley, basil and rosemary. The introduction of these new tastes caused an eruption in manuscripts on cooking, some of which are kept safe in academic collections. During the next few centuries, the powerful families of Europe tried to lay on the best banquets, and because of this the best cooks and their collection of recipes increased in prestige. Notwithstanding that, it wasn`t until the 19th century that cooking and recipe publications became popular. Mrs Beeton in the UK, and the equally famous Fannie Merritt Farmer in the US, dedicated the best years of their lives to collecting, testing, and writing down the recipes that were being prepared for the better households. The revolution that is television brought us celebrity chefs and the spin-off recipe books. Which pretty much brings us up to date and the internet revolution, allowing us all to search through massive numbers of recipes such as those found on this web site. |
We hope you enjoy this Asian Marinated Eggplant recipe.
