Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
Silky eggplant in a sweet-savoury garlic and vinegar sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplant
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Ginger
- 2 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinkiang black vinegar
- 1 tbsp Pixian doubanjiang
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 4 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Cut the eggplant into batons and mince the garlic, ginger, and scallions.
- Whisk the soy, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch with a little water into a sauce.
- Fry the eggplant in the oil until soft and golden, then set aside.
- Fry the garlic, ginger, and doubanjiang until fragrant, return the eggplant, and add the sauce to thicken.
- Scatter the scallions and serve with rice.
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About Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
Eggplant in garlic sauce, known in Sichuan cooking as yu xiang qiezi or fish-fragrant eggplant, is a classic of the vegetable table: silky, collapsing eggplant bathed in a glossy sauce that is at once sweet, savory, sour, and gently spicy. The name refers not to any seafood but to the flavor profile once used for fish dishes, built from garlic, ginger, scallion, sugar, and vinegar. What defines it is contrast, the near-melting softness of the eggplant against a bright, punchy sauce that clings to every piece.
The flavor comes from a few key ingredients working together: Pixian doubanjiang, the fermented broad-bean chili paste that gives Sichuan cooking its savory-spicy backbone, and Chinkiang black vinegar, whose deep malty sourness balances the sugar. Frying the eggplant first until soft and golden is what gives it that luxurious, silky texture, and a little cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce so it coats rather than pools. Naturally vegan and generous with fiber, it is meant to be eaten with plenty of steamed rice, which soaks up the sauce, and it holds its own as a centerpiece or as part of a larger spread of dishes.
Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Eggplant in Garlic Sauce?
A serving has about 424 calories — 5.6g protein, 35.8g carbs, 29.4g fat, 8.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Eggplant in Garlic Sauce gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Light soy sauce, Pixian doubanjiang. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Eggplant in Garlic Sauce?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Eggplant in Garlic Sauce make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.