Steamed aubergine in a chilli and sesame dressing
- Side
- Easy
- 4–6
- 20 minutes
PT20M
This tasty steamed aubergine recipe is a popular Chinese side dish and just so happens to be vegan. Serve as part of an array of other dishes, or simply with steamed rice.
Chinese toasted sesame paste can be found in Asian supermarkets, but don't be tempted to use tahini instead as it has a very different flavour. You can, however, use peanut butter – just try to make sure it's heavily roasted.
Ingredients
- 2 aubergines , sliced into small batons
- 66ml of light soy sauce
- 55ml of Chinkiang black vinegar
- 70ml of chilli oil, with some crispy sediment
- 16g of sugar
- 1 tbsp of Chinese toasted sesame paste , or peanut butter
- 4 garlic cloves , very finely chopped
- 1 spring onion , finely chopped
- 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
Equipment
- Large steamer
Method
Place a large bamboo steamer over a pan of simmering water. Stack the batons of aubergine in 2 neat lines in a dish that will fit inside your steamer. Place the dish in your steamer and steam over a high heat until the aubergines are soft (about 12–15 minutes)
- 2 aubergines , sliced into small batons
Meanwhile, combine the light soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, chilli oil and sesame paste (or peanut butter) and mix well until the sugar has completely dissolved
- 66ml of light soy sauce
- 55ml of Chinkiang black vinegar
- 16g of sugar
- 70ml of chilli oil, with some crispy sediment
- 1 tbsp of Chinese toasted sesame paste , or peanut butter
Remove the aubergine from the steamer and pour off any water that has collected in the dish. Pat the aubergine dry and arrange in a serving dish, then pour over the dressing. Spread the chopped garlic and spring onions evenly over the aubergines
- 4 garlic cloves , very finely chopped
- 1 spring onion , finely chopped
Finally, heat the vegetable oil in a small pan until smoking hot. Carefully pour the hot oil over the garlic and spring onions. Be careful as it will sizzle and spit
- 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
Serve with this presentation, but make sure you mix everything together before eating
Go to Comments
Steamed aubergine in a chilli and sesame dressing
