Yam makreua yao is a common salad served in Thailand. This version takes inspiration from David Thompson’s Thai Food and is served with steamed egg. Long green Thai eggplant is available from Asian greengrocers – if you can’t find it substitute with Japanese eggplant. If you don’t have a gas stove or barbecue to char the eggplant, roast it in a hot oven until tender – it won’t, however, have quite the subtle smokiness of the charred version.
Smoky eggplant salad with mint, red shallot and steamed egg
Australian Gourmet Traveller light meal recipe for smoky eggplant salad with mint, red shallot and steamed egg
- 10 mins preparation
- 15 mins cooking plus cooling
- Serves 4
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Ingredients
- 4 free-range eggs, at room temperature
- 6 long green Thai eggplant
- ¼ cup each of (loosely packed) mint and coriander leaves
- 2 red shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced diagonally
- 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
- ½ small red chilli, finely chopped
- 40 ml lime juice (2 tbsp)
- 20 ml fish sauce (1 tbsp)
- To serve: ground dried prawns (see note) and steamed rice (optional)
Method
Main
- 1Place a steamer basket over a saucepan of boiling water (large enough to fit pan snugly without overhanging). Place eggs in basket, cover with steamer lid and steam for 6-7 minutes for semi-soft yolks, then remove from heat and cool. Peel, halve and set aside.
- 2Meanwhile, cook eggplant over an open flame, turning occasionally, until charred and soft (about 5 minutes). Transfer to a colander to drain juices, cool, then peel. Combine with herbs, shallot, green onion, garlic, chilli, lime juice and fish sauce. Stir to combine, scatter with ground dried prawns and serve with steamed eggs and rice.
Notes
Ground dried prawns are available from Asian grocers.