Rating: 4.9/5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Looking for a dinner recipe that gets you out of your comfort zone but also warms your heart? This is your Thai Eggplant Recipe. Thai food is famous for harmony; hot, sweet, salty, bitter, and sour tastes harmonize with each other even when used in ordinary dishes. Here we make an extremely simple dish with a Thai twist that will have everyone begging for more. This is an easy recipe, it contains healthy vegetables and you can make this for dinner on a working week.
- Origins in Thai Cuisine: Thai eggplants also known as makheua in Thailand, are used widely in Thai curry and pan-fried dishes.
- Medicinal Uses: Conventionally the Thai eggplants were used in Thai traditional medicinal cures.
- Varieties: These are simply called eggplants and they are green or purple, which has a mild, slightly bitter taste that is good when soaked up by sauces.
- Popular Thai Dishes: Thai eggplants are most famously used in Thai green curry and spicy stir-fried dishes.
Read more: Delicious Shiitake Mushroom Stir-Fry Recipe: A Savoury Delight
Ingredients for Thai Eggplant Recipe
For the Eggplant Stir Fry:
- 2 cups Thai eggplants (sliced into wedges)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or coconut oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch ginger, grated
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional, for authentic flavor)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar (preferably coconut sugar)
- 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
For Serving:
- Steamed jasmine rice or noodles
- Lime wedges
Step-by-Step Instructions for Thai Eggplant Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
Start by washing and cutting the Thai eggplants into desired small sections preferably in the form of wedges. Put them away with other julienned vegetables such as bell peppers or onions.
Step 2: Heat the Oil
Heat up three tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium fire. Follow this with minced garlic and grated ginger stirring the mix until the garlic and ginger slightly brown about 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the Eggplant
Place sliced Thai eggplant into the skillet. Gently fold, and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the eggplant begins to become tender. If it starts to stick to the pan, do not add water at this stage, just pour one tablespoon full of water.
Step 4: Add the Other Vegetables
Add in the sliced bell peppers and the onions. Cook them for a further 3-4 minutes, until they turn soft and still crunchy, bright in color, and wonderfully textured.
Step 5: Make the Sauce
First you stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Mix up gently to make sure that all the veggies are coated nicely in this tasty sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Step 6: Finish with Thai Basil
Lastly, throw in the Thai basil leaves and mix well. That is because the basil will wilt a little giving the dish a fresh peppery scent. Take the skillet off the heat when the basil is added to the mixture.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
Eat the Thai eggplant stir-fry over a bed of jasmine rice or noodles that have been steamed. It’s perfect when served with lime wedges on the side.
Nutritional Information for Thai Eggplant Recipe
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Protein: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fat: 5g
- Fiber: 4g
- Vitamin C: 60% of the daily recommended intake
- Calcium: 5% of the daily recommended intake
Tips for Perfect Thai Eggplant Recipe
- Use Fresh Thai Basil: Thai basil is used for this dish to provide its authentic fragrance and taste, it’s preferable to Thai basil over regular one.
- Control Spice Level: Small whole red chilies may be included with it for extra heat as well as flavor, or use red chili flakes or Thai chilies.
- Skip Fish Sauce for Vegan Option: To make this dish vegan, omit the fish sauce, you may use more soy sauce or a drop of tamari for the umami punch.
Why You’ll Love This Thai Eggplant Recipe
This is an excellent Thai-style eggplant stir fry recipe for all those who want Thai food at their doorstep. It is extremely easy to put together, packed with vitamins from crunchy vegetables, and full of both, vegetable and Thai food enthusiasts who will enjoy this dish. You can prepare this Thai eggplant and aromatic basil recipe tonight and enjoy the exotic feel of Bangkok.
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