Chefs' Recipes

Spice Temple's steamed eggplant with three flavours

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Spice Temple's steamed eggplant with three flavours.

By Neil Perry
  • 20 mins preparation
  • 25 mins cooking plus draining
  • Serves 4
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Spice Temple's steamed eggplant with three flavours
"I keep returning to Sydney's Spice Temple for the steamed eggplant with three flavours. It's an awesome dish. Please publish the recipe!"
Angelique Marris, Kingsford, NSW
To request a recipe, write to Fare Exchange, , GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email us. All requests should include the restaurant's name and address or business card, as well as your name and address.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggplant, cut into thick batons
  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 30 ml peanut oil
  • 400 gm coarsely minced pork
  • 80 gm sweet bean paste (see note) (¼ cup)
  • 350 ml chicken stock
  • 120 ml dark soy sauce
  • ½ tsp sesame oil
  • 2 cups coriander, coarsely chopped (loosely packed)

Method

Main
  • 1
    Place eggplant in a colander, scatter with 2 tsp fine sea salt, set aside to drain (1 hour). Lightly rinse eggplant under cold running water, drain and pat dry with absorbent paper. Steam in a single layer in a large steamer placed over boiling salted water until soft (12-14 minutes), keep warm.
  • 2
    Meanwhile, blanch garlic in boiling water until tender (3-5 minutes). Drain, cool, finely chop and set aside.
  • 3
    Heat peanut oil in a wok over high heat, add pork, stir-fry until golden (3-5 minutes), remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add bean paste to wok, stir-fry until fragrant (30 seconds-1 minute), add stock, soy sauce and pork and simmer until thick (5-7 minutes), then stir through sesame oil.
  • 4
    To serve, scatter eggplant with garlic, pork and coriander and serve hot.

Notes

Sweet bean paste is available from Asian grocers.
This recipe is from the September 2010 issue of
.