Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing

Name: Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 medium Japanese eggplants (about 1 3/4 pound); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 6 tablespoons hot water; 6 tablespoons light brown sugar; 1/2 cup fish sauce (such as Viet Huong Three Crabs Brand); 1/2 cup fresh lime juice; 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger; 1 teaspoon grated garlic; 1/2 fresh Thai chile, unseeded, finely chopped; 1 (2-inch) piece lemongrass stalk, halved lengthwise and smashed; 1 makrut lime leaf (optional); 1/4 cup roughly torn fresh basil, cilantro, and/or mint, plus more for sprinkling; 1/4 cup thinly sliced radishes; 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion; 1/2 cup toasted chopped peanuts; 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions; 2 teaspoons crispy fried shallots (such as Maesri); 2 teaspoons fried garlic (such as Maesri)

1 Rating
3 Reviews

Chef Joe Ogrodnek (BNC class of 2014) pulls out all the stops with this next-level eggplant dish. First he seasons the eggplant and lets it sit before charring on the grill to draw out moisture and add flavor from the inside out. Then he adds plenty of crispy-crunchy texture to the silky grilled eggplant by stuffing each one with peanuts, fried shallots and garlic, fresh herbs, onions, and radishes before drizzling the punchy dressing on top. Delicious hot or room temperature, they’re perfect for your next summer cookout. Be sure to using hot water in the dressing to help dissolve the sweet, floral coconut palm sugar.Related: More Eggplant Recipes

By Joe Ogrodnek

July 2020

Gallery

Credit: Photo by Tara Donne / Food Styling by Chris Lanier / Prop Styling by Raina Kattelson

Recipe Summary

total:

45 mins

active:

35 mins

Yield:

Directions

Start the grilled eggplant

Step 1
Preheat grill to very high (500°F and up). Peel eggplants, leaving stems intact. Season all over with salt and pepper, and place on a small baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature at least 5 minutes or up to 30 minutes; pat dry with paper towels.

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Make the Thai dressing

Step 1
Whisk together 6 tablespoons hot water and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in fish sauce, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and chile. Add lemongrass, and, if desired, lime leaf.

Finish the grilled eggplant

Step 1
Place eggplants on oiled grates; grill, covered, turning occasionally, until slightly charred and very tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. Cut eggplants in half lengthwise (do not cut all the way through).

Assemble the dish

Step 1
Divide eggplants among 4 large shallow bowls. Stuff eggplants evenly with herbs, radishes, and red onion. Drizzle 2 tablespoons dressing over each stuffed eggplant. Top evenly with peanuts, scallions, fried shallots, and fried garlic. Sprinkle with additional herbs. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Alternatively, eggplant can be cooked in a skillet. Working in batches, sear the eggplants in vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high until browned on all sides and tender.

Suggested Pairing

Aromatic, medium-bodied Alsace white.

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Barley's luminary

07/14/2021

It's hard to resist a recipe that has the words "fairy tale" in it. There is a lot of pre cooking activities that have to happen - finding all the ingredients - I can't imagine having all these items in your pantry or fridge. And unless you live in a good sized town or city, might be hard to get your hands on all the ingredients. But... it was fun to make and a pretty good dish - a lot of work, so not sure it'll be a regular item on our table, but when I see lovely fairy tale fuschia snakelike eggplants at the international market during the summer when I also have all those herbs in my garden, I'll make it again.

LouMamou

07/11/2020

The recipe says to peel the eggplant, but in the photograph the eggplant does not appear to be peeled. Is it necessary?

Svetlana kaplan

07/09/2020

Skip this recipe or half the sauce amount.. makes almost 2 cups of sauce for 4 tablespoons.. add some rice or rice noodles..

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Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Notes

Suggested Pairing

Reviews (3)

All Reviews for Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing

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Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Notes

Suggested Pairing

Reviews (3)

All Reviews for Fairy Tale Eggplant with Crispy Shallots and Thai Dressing