Ingredients for Sauce
- 2 tablespoons chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Chinese black vinegar
- 2 teaspoons plum sauce
Other Ingredients
- 4 Chinese eggplants (about 1 pound), stems removed
- Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 4 dried whole chile peppers
- 2 green onions, cut into 2-inch lengths
- 1/4 pound ground pork
- Chopped cilantro leaves or sliced green onions
Directions:
- Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl; mix well.
- With a vegetable peeler, remove 1-inch strips of the eggplant skin, leaving a 1-inch strip of skin in between. Cut the eggplant into fourths lengthwise, then cut each section crosswise into 3-inch pieces.
- Pour enough oil into a 2-quart saucepan to fill 3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
- Deep-fry the eggplant batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on paper towels.
- Place wok over a high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon of deep-frying oil and swirl to coat the sides.
- Add the garlic, ginger, dried chiles and green onion; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add ground meat and cook, breaking up pieces with back of a spoon, until brown and crumbly.
- Add the sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Add the cooked eggplant and stir to coat. Scoop onto a warm serving platter.
- Serve, garnished with cilantro or green onions.
This recipe takes about 20 minutes, and serves 4.
Very nice!