Miso Glazed Eggplant

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Roasted Japanese eggplant halves are slathered in umami-packed miso sauce, broiled until golden and served up with sesame seeds and scallions to make this melt-in-your mouth miso glazed eggplant.

This is just about the easiest thing ever, and it’s so good!

We have a Japanese place near our house, and my favorite thing on the menu is a salad that’s topped with miso roasted eggplant. Guys: a salad. I eat and enjoy plenty of salad, but it’s not usually my favorite thing on the menu at any restaurant, so the fact that it is at this particular place says a lot. It’s all about the eggplant.

Of course, once I tried it I had to go home and reverse-engineer the dish. It wasn’t too tough though; the flavors are super simple, but they work amazingly together. Part of me was itching to throw in some garlic, ginger, hot sauce…I like a lot of flavor in my food, but this time around a little bit went a long way.

Basically here’s how it goes: roast up some eggplant. I used Japanese eggplant, which I guess would be in line with the origins of the dish, but I’m sure any old eggplant will work just as well. While the eggplant roasts, mix up the glaze and give it a quick simmer. The glaze was so good that I was eating it out of the saucepan, but then again I’m weird like that. Then, when the eggplant is all nice and tender, brush on the glaze and stick it under the broiler, so you get some of those nice dark spots.

You can really serve it however you like, even on a salad. I just ate mine plain, with a side of rice.

5 from 1 vote Print

Roasted Japanese eggplant halves are slathered in umami-packed miso sauce, broiled until golden and served up with sesame seeds and scallions to make this melt-in-your mouth miso glazed eggplant. CourseEntree, Side CuisineAmerican, Japanese Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Total Time 30 minutes Servings 4 Calories 87 kcal Author Alissa

Ingredients

2medium Japanese eggplants,about 10 ounces total, can sub other varieties of eggplant – see notes
1tablespoonsesame oil
2tablespoonswhite miso paste
1tablespoonmaple syrup
1tablespoonsake,optional, but so worth it
¼cuphot water

For Serving

chopped scallions
sesame seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° Halve eggplants lengthwise. Brush halves with sesame oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Place into the oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes.
While the eggplants bake, make the glaze by whisking miso, maple syrup, sake and hot water together in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and continue whisking while you bring the mixture to a simmer, and then remove from heat once it begins simmering.
Remove eggplant from the oven and brush generously with miso mixture. Place under broiler and broil just until some brown and black spots appear, watching closely to avoid burning.
Divide eggplant onto plates and top with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve.

Recipe Notes

If you substitute a larger variety of eggplant, like Italian, I’d suggest cutting it into thick slabs (2 to 3 inches thick). If your eggplant is a bit brown on the inside or has been hanging around for a while, you may need to salt it to get rid of any bitterness that has developed. After cutting the eggplant, place the halves into a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, pat dry, and proceed with the recipe.

Nutrition FactsMiso Glazed EggplantAmount Per ServingCalories 87Calories from Fat 39% Daily Value*Fat 4.3g7%Saturated Fat 0.6g3%Sodium 323mg13%Potassium 214mg6%Carbohydrates 10.6g4%Fiber 3.2g13%Sugar 5.8g6%Protein 1.9g4%Calcium 20mg2%Iron 0.5mg3%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.« Black Bean Plantain ChiliSpiced Afghan Pumpkin Stew »