Summer Make-Ahead Dish (1): Marinated Fried Eggplant (Namban-zuke Style)

Name: Summer Make-Ahead Dish (1): Marinated Fried Eggplant (Namban-zuke Style)
Yield: Serves 4 servings
Ingredients: 6 –8 eggplants; 2 –3 green bell peppers; as needed Vegetable oil for frying,; 3 tablespoons soy sauce (45 ml); 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (45 ml); 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar (about 18 grams); 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (15 ml); 1/2 –1 teaspoon chili bean paste (doubanjiang); 1/3 –1/2 clove garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced (about 4 grams); 4 -inch piece green onion, minced (about 10 cm)

らるむ。 @cook_40064457

☆★☆Over 100 positive reviews☆★☆
A refreshing vinegar dish for hot days.
Great for preventing summer fatigue!
Make a big batch and enjoy it for 2–3 days.
Recipe background:
I always get lots of eggplant in the summer.

(Updated 7/25/16: Increased the amount of aromatics a bit.)

らるむ。 @cook_40064457

(Updated 7/25/16: Increased the amount of aromatics a bit.)

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Ingredients

Serves 4 servings

6–8 eggplants
2–3 green bell peppers
as neededVegetable oil for frying,
Namban-zuke Marinade
3 tablespoonssoy sauce (45 ml)
3 tablespoonsrice vinegar (45 ml)
1 1/2 tablespoonssugar (about 18 grams)
1 tablespoontoasted sesame oil (15 ml)
1/2–1 teaspoon chili bean paste (doubanjiang)
1/3–1/2 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoonsfresh ginger, minced (about 4 grams)
4-inch piece green onion, minced (about 10 cm)

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Steps

1

Cut the stems off the eggplants, slice them in half lengthwise, and score the skin in a crosshatch pattern. Soak in salted water for 10 minutes to remove bitterness.
2

Cut the bell peppers into 2–4 strips lengthwise and remove the seeds and stems.
3

In a small saucepan, combine all the marinade ingredients except the green onion. Heat until it comes to a boil, then remove from heat and stir in the green onion.
4

Pat the eggplants dry and fry them in vegetable oil heated to 350°F (175°C) until tender. Quickly fry the bell peppers as well.
5

Arrange the drained eggplants in a container and pour the marinade evenly over them.
6

You can eat them after marinating for about 10 minutes, but they're also delicious chilled.
7

These marinated eggplants are great as a topping for chilled ramen or somen noodles.
8

You can also marinate fried chicken in the leftover marinade to make a chicken namban-style dish!
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☆June 6, 2014: This recipe became a hot topic☆
Thank you for all the great feedback!
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☆June 18, 2014: Ranked #1 in 'fried eggplant' searches!
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☆November 30, 2015: Reached 100 user reviews!
Thank you so much for all your feedback!
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Featured in 'Cookpad's Delicious Select! Make-Ahead Salads'♪