The eggplant is closely related to the potato and tomato families of vegetables as well as being a member of the tobacco family. The first time I seen an eggplant I thought it was “The Vegetable From Another Planet” or something that escaped the set of the new British version of The Day of the Triffids set to be aired in Great Britain during the month of December in 2009.
This oddly shaped plant has a rich, deep, complex color grouping that looks like it could have come from another world however, it is native to India and used in dishes in many different countries. The Chinese produce the most eggplant of any nation on Earth and they have some wonderful eggplant recipes. One of those recipes is the Chinese crispy eggplant recipe.
The Chinese crispy eggplant dish is easy to create and most everyone who will seriously try it will love it. Eggplant can absorb a lot of oils and sauces making for extremely rich dishes. Another great use for the eggplant is in making a Chinese eggplant stir-fry. There are several Chinese eggplant dishes you can serve and make; this is just one example of an interpretation of the classic Chinese crispy fried eggplant recipe.
Ingredients for Chinese Crispy Eggplant Recipe
One large eggplant
Two Eggs
One tablespoon of garlic powder
One teaspoon of cayenne pepper
One tablespoon of powdered ginger
One tablespoon of onion powder
One cups of flour
Two cups of cornmeal
Deep fryer and peanut oil
Directions for Chinese Crispy Eggplant Recipe
1. Dice your eggplant and place in a colander. Eggplant needs to be salted in order to prevent it from absorbing too much fat during the cooking process. Wet the eggplant down and then sprinkle heavily with salt allowing setting for around fifteen minutes before washing and drying, and then set to the side.
2. Fill your deep fryer 2/3rds the way full with peanut oil and heat to 350 degrees.
3. Crack your eggs and whisk them well in a small bowl.
4. Mix the flour, cornmeal, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
5. Dip your eggplant cubes in the egg mixture and then lightly coat them with the flour mixture.
6. Gently drop the eggplant cubes into the deep fryer and cook until done. When the breading is a rich golden brown and the cubes are floating freely in the fat, the eggplant is ready.
7. Place your eggplant cubes on a plate with paper towels so they can drain.
8. Repeat until you have cooked all the cubes of eggplant.
Serving Suggestions for Chinese Crispy Eggplant
1. Instead of dicing your eggplant into cubes, you may cut it into slender wedges and serve similar to french-fries with a beef, fish, or chicken dish.
2. Chinese crispy eggplant goes well with a number of sauces including garlic sauce and shrimp sauce. Personally, I enjoy shrimp sauce with my meal.