Ingredients:
Eggplants
- 2-3 small-medium eggplants, cut in half
- 2 tbsp miso paste
- 11⁄2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Rice
- 3 cups long grain white rice
- 2 tsp Asian spice mix (p38 Anythings Possible Cookbook)
- 1 tbsp fresh turmeric, grated with skin on (optional)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1⁄2 tsp salt
To serve:
- Ginger tahini sauce (p82)
- Garnish
- 2 tbsp chives (5g), finely sliced
- 1⁄4 cup micro herbs (10g)
- 1⁄4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 tsp white and black sesame seeds
Method:
Eggplants
- Preheat oven to 180°C fan. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Using a sharp knife, score a diamond pattern in the flesh of the eggplants.
- Put the miso paste, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic and ginger into a small bowl and, using a fork, combine until smooth. Then, using a pastry brush or spatula, generously apply the marinade to the fleshy side of the eggplants.
- Put the miso eggplants on the baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes until they are brown and cooked all the way through. Remove from the oven.
- Meanwhile, put the rice in a strainer and rinse well under the tap.
- Add the rinsed rice to a pot with 5 cups of water, the Asian spice mix (p38) and turmeric, if using. With the lid on, bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked through and the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and leave the lid on for a further 5 minutes. Mix in the apple cider vinegar, olive oil and salt.
- Serve the rice and miso eggplants together with the ginger tahini sauce (p82) and garnish with chives, micro herbs, pomegranate seeds and a sprinkle of white and black sesame seeds. Enjoy!
More info:
Should you ‘sweat’ your eggplants? Every time we cut this delicious purple vegetable, we ask ourselves this simple question. The idea is that by applying salt to your eggplant and letting it ‘sweat’ you will draw out the bitterness, making it more sweet and full of flavour. Do we do it? Well, sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t, depending on how we are feeling and how much time we have. We personally haven’t noticed too much of a difference either way but I am sure some people do. So it is up to you, depending on your time frame and if you deem it important.
