Grilled Eggplant with Miso Glaze (Nasu Dengaku)
Ease of preparation rating: Medium.
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients
2 small eggplants, halved and scored
2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil
¼ cup (60ml) red miso paste
1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce
1 tablespoon (15ml) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons (30ml) mirin
2 tablespoons (30ml) sake
2 tablespoons (30ml) dashi
Toasted sesame seeds, to garnish
2 green onions, thinly sliced to garnish
Method
Set oven to broil on high.
In a sauce pan, mix together miso, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, sake and dashi.
Heat over medium-high heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool at room temperature.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
Place eggplant halves flesh side down in hot oil, and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Flip, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool at room temperature.
Place eggplant flesh side up on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Brush a ¼ inch layer of the miso marinade over the eggplant.
Broil in oven for 3-4 minutes, or until caramelized and dark brown.
The eggplant should be soft, and the sauce should be bubbly between the scoring.
Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.