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Vegetarian, East Asian

Miso glazed eggplant with rice

Miso glazed eggplant with rice is a Japanese vegetarian dish for 4 people, ready in 40 minutes, easy to make, for €2.00 per serving. The eggplant roasts until soft, then gets coated in a sweet miso glaze that caramelizes under the broiler. The key is watching the broiler closely, the sugar can burn in seconds.

Tonight, roasted eggplant draped in a sweet miso glaze that caramelizes in the oven, the classic nasu dengaku.

Miso glazed eggplant with rice
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.00
Calories per person
550 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall

This Japanese dish, nasu dengaku, plays on a simple contrast, soft roasted eggplant flesh against a miso glaze that turns sticky and almost lacquered under the broiler. Sugar and mirin soften the saltiness of the miso, sesame seeds add a bit of crunch, scallions bring freshness. Plain rice acts as a neutral base that soaks up everything.

It's a weeknight dinner that needs few steps but a bit of attention at the very end, while the oven does its work. It suits a vegetarian dinner for one or two, and it also works well for guests curious about Japanese cooking. Kids already used to the taste of miso may enjoy it, others might prefer a milder version.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Eggplants 4
  • Scallions 2

Pantry

  • Red or white miso 4 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Mirin or sake 2 tbsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Sesame seeds 2 tbsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g

Allergens Soy, Sesame

The step by step recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 210°C. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern.

    The crosshatch lets heat and sauce soak in.

  2. Brush the eggplants with oil and roast them, flesh side up. 25 min

    They're done when the flesh gives under a finger.

  3. Cook the rice in a pot of salted water, then drain it. 11 min

    The rice cooks while the eggplants roast.

  4. Mix the miso, sugar, and mirin in a saucepan over low heat until smooth. 3 min

    Stir constantly, miso scorches fast.

  5. Spread the miso glaze over the eggplants, broil for 2 minutes, sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions, and serve with the rice. 2 min

    Stay by the oven, the sugar can burn in seconds.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm, unblemished eggplants, they roast more evenly and stay less bitter.
  • Score the flesh fairly deep without piercing the skin, this helps the miso soak in well after roasting.
  • If your miso is very salty, cut back slightly on the sugar in the glaze to keep the balance right.

The variations

  • Swap red miso for white miso for a milder, less salty glaze.
  • For a quicker version, cut the eggplant into thick slices instead of halves, they roast faster.
  • For kids less used to miso, use half the amount of miso and a touch more sugar.

What to serve it with

  • A bowl of miso soup
  • Steamed vegetables, like broccoli
  • Hot green tea

Storage

The eggplant keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it in the oven or under the broiler for a few minutes to bring back some caramelization. Keep the rice separate and reheat it steamed or in the microwave with a splash of water.

Questions about this dish

Can I replace the mirin with something else?

Sake works well, as noted in the recipe. In a pinch, rice vinegar mixed with a bit of sugar can stand in, though the result will be slightly less rounded.

Which miso should I use for this recipe?

Red miso gives a stronger, saltier glaze, white miso a milder, sweeter one. Both work, it comes down to preference.

Can I make the miso glaze ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the day before and keep it in the fridge in a sealed container. Warm it slightly before spreading it on the eggplant so it glides on easily.

Why score the eggplant flesh?

Scoring increases the surface area exposed to heat and to the glaze. The eggplant cooks more evenly and absorbs the miso better.

How long does it take to make miso glazed eggplant with rice?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in miso glazed eggplant with rice?

About 550 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does miso glazed eggplant with rice cost?

About €2.00 per serving, or €8.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, sesame. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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