Fried Stuffed Chinese Eggplant |
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Prep Time: 40 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 40 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Xiao Yang uses Italian eggplant (not Asian) in this recipe. Ingredients:
1 (9-inch) eggplant (about 3 inches wide; 1 1/4 lb) |
1/4 lb ground pork (not lean) |
2 tablespoons finely chopped scallion greens |
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger |
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce |
1/4 teaspoon salt |
3 to 4 cups peanut or vegetable oil for frying |
1 cup all-purpose flour |
1 large egg, lightly beaten |
3/4 cup water |
Directions:
1. Cut off 1 1/2 inches from bottom of eggplant and discard. Move knife 1/4 inch from cut side and cut almost but not all the way through eggplant (this is the pocket). Move knife 1/4 inch from pocket cut and cut slice free from eggplant. Make 7 more slices with pockets in same manner.
2. Stir together pork, scallion, ginger, soy sauce, and salt in a bowl with a fork. Spread 1 tablespoon filling in each eggplant pocket.
3. Heat 1/2 inch oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until it registers 360°F on thermometer (see cooks' note, below).
4. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, egg, and water in a bowl until batter is smooth. Dip 4 eggplant slices, 1 at a time, into batter, shaking off excess to leave a thin coating, and fry, turning over once, until eggplant is tender when pierced with a fork and batter is pale golden, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 360°F, then coat and fry remaining 4 slices in same manner. Drain briefly on paper towels and serve immediately.
5. Cooks' note: To take the temperature of a shallow amount of oil with a metal flat-framed deep-fat thermometer, put bulb of thermometer in skillet and turn thermometer facedown, resting other end (not plastic handle) against rim of skillet. Check temperature frequently.
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