Name: Charred miso eggplant with nori and sesame
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 eggplant (about 400gm each) halved lengthways, flesh scored in a cross-hatch pattern; rice bran oil, for brushing; spring onion, cut into julienne, to serve; toasted nori, roasted sesame seeds, and tatsoi cress (optional), to serve; rice (optional), to serve; Miso glaze; 75 gm (1⁄4 cup) shiro (white) miso paste; 2 tbsp mirin; 1 tbsp light soy sauce or shoyu (see note); 1 tsp sesame oil; Three-flavour dressing; 2 tsp light soy sauce or shoyu; 1½ tsp brown rice vinegar; 1 tsp sesame oil

Charred miso eggplant with nori and sesame

Nasu dengaku is one of Japan's most popular exports for a reason. Get ready to fire up that grill.

Serves 6

Prep

20M

Cook

15M

Total

35M

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We’ve grilled this glazed eggplant, known as nasu dengaku, in the oven, but if you have a charcoal barbecue it will work wonders.

Ingredients

3 eggplant (about 400gm each) halved lengthways, flesh scored in a cross-hatch pattern

rice bran oil, for brushing

spring onion, cut into julienne, to serve

toasted nori, roasted sesame seeds, and tatsoi cress (optional), to serve

rice (optional), to serve

Miso glaze

75 gm (1⁄4 cup) shiro (white) miso paste

2 tbsp mirin

1 tbsp light soy sauce or shoyu (see note)

1 tsp sesame oil

Three-flavour dressing

2 tsp light soy sauce or shoyu

1½ tsp brown rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

Method

1.For miso glaze, combine ingredients in a bowl.

2.Preheat oven grill to high heat and line a baking tray with baking paper. Brush eggplant with oil, season with salt and place on tray cut-side up. Grill until golden and just tender (8-10 minutes). Brush eggplant flesh liberally with glaze, then grill until charred and sticky (2-3 minutes). Or set up a barbecue for indirect grilling and grill eggplant flesh-side down over high heat.

3.For three-flavour dressing, combine ingredients in a bowl.

4.Drizzle eggplant with dressing, top with spring onion, nori, sesame seeds and tatsoi cress and serve.