Long, slender Chinese eggplant makes a quick stir-fry dinner. Authentic Chinese flavor comes from ginger, garlic, and spicy red chili. If you crave bold Asian flavors, this plant-based oil-free vegan recipe is for you.
Serve with Oil-Free Quinoa Fried “Nice”, 5-Minute Adzuki Bean Salad with Oil-Free Asian Peanut Dressing, or enjoy over Black Forbidden Rice.
Easy | Servings: 4 | Ready In: 20 minutes | Yield: about 4-5 cups
What is Chinese Eggplant?
Chinese eggplants are long, slender eggplants with a vibrant purple skin. Unlike Italian globe eggplants that you’re most familiar with, Chinese eggplants have less seeds. This makes them less bitter (so there is no need to pre-salt or pre-bake them). Plus, their slender shape means they cook quickly, ideal for quick, oil-free stir-fries.
What is Chinese Black Vinegar?
Chinese black vinegar is an aged vinegar which is typically made from rice, but can also be made from wheat, millet, sorghum, or a combination. It has a deep black color, similar to that of balsamic vinegar. You can substitute with balsamic for this recipe.
How do I Stir-Fry Without Oil?
There are a few tricks to stir-frying without oil. First, make sure your pan is nice and hot. It’s a good idea to preheat it while you’re prepping your vegetables. Use a PFOA-free, non-stick pan if possible. Second, keep your vegetables moving around the pan. This recipe asks you to char the eggplant first. But after that you want to really stir the veggies…hence the term “stir-fry”. Third, use water. If your veggies start to stick to the pan, add a splash of water or vegetable broth to help release them from sticking.
Chef Katie’s Plant-Based Cooking Tips:
Extra Spicy Flavor: Keep the seeds of the red chili if you want extra heat. You can easily bump up the flavors here by doubling the amount of garlic, red chili, or ginger you use.
Tamari? Tamari is gluten-free soy sauce. Use it as your “salt” in this recipe. Because it is liquid, it will be easier to season the soup than a granulated salt.
More Plant-Based Protein? For more vegan protein, add in diced firm tofu, shelled edamame, or 1 can of adzuki beans. Add any of these at the same time you add garlic and ginger.
Oil-Free: I’m on a mission to get rid of empty calories, like those found in refined oils. This recipe skips oil and uses parchment paper to keep the bars from sticking to the pan. This makes a healthy, low-calorie recipe.
Quick Oil-Free Chinese Eggplant Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 4 Chinese eggplants about 1.5 pounds, cut into 3/4-inch, half-moons
- 1 bunch scallions green onion, sliced 3-inches long, on a bias
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red chili pepper diced
- 2 tablespoon ginger minced
- 3 pitted dates minced
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar or balsamic
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds to garnish
Instructions
- To make the Quick Chinese Eggplant Stir-Fry:
- Preheat a wide sauté pan or wok over high heat. Place the eggplant in a single layer in your preheated pan. Let sear, without moving, for about 5 minutes. You may need to work in two batches, depending on how wide your pan is. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan or the eggplant won’t brown properly.
- When the eggplant is well-charred on one side, flip and char on the second side, another 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from the pan and return the pan to heat.
- Add the scallions to the pan. Sauté until brown around the edges, 7-8 minutes.
- Add the ginger, garlic, red chili, dates, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water. Return the eggplant to the heat. Sauté everything 3-5 minutes over high heat, until aromatic and the eggplant is tender. Add water, as needed, to prevent burning.
- Pour in the tamari and turn off the heat. Taste to adjust seasoning.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Watch to Another Oil-Free Stir-Fry Recipe:
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (9.1 ounces).
Calories 95.22
Calories From Fat (8%) 7.48
% Daily Value
- Total Fat 0.89g 1%
- Saturated Fat 0.14g <1%
- Cholesterol 0mg 0%
- Sodium 143.82mg 6%
- Potassium 643.43mg 18%
- Total Carbohydrates 21.63g 7%
- Fiber 7.63g 31%
- Sugar 13.05g
- Protein 3.3g 7%
- Calcium 25.56mg 3%
- Iron 50.97mg 283%
- Vitamin A 387.74IU 8%
- Vitamin C 0mg 0
Shopping and Gear List
- SAN-J -TAMARI-REDUCED SODIUM [Gluten Free] (Organic) 10OZ[1PACK]
- Soeos Chinkiang Vinegar, Chinese Black Vinegar, Zhenjiang Vinegar, 18.6 fl
- Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Deglet Noor Dates (Pitted), 2 Pounds
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