Irresistible Sticky Garlic Eggplant Recipe
This Irresistible Sticky Garlic Eggplant recipe features tender, golden-fried eggplant in a luscious, garlicky sticky sauce. The combination of soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar delivers a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors. Garnished with toasted sesame seeds, this dish is an easy-to-make vegetarian delight that works perfectly as a side or a main paired with rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 medium eggplants (about 500g)
Sauce and Seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
Cooking Oil and Garnish
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying)
- Toasted sesame seeds (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the eggplant: Wash and cut the eggplants into bite-sized cubes or strips. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispier texture when frying.
- Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, low-sodium soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, and rice vinegar. Stir well until the honey is fully dissolved and the sauce is well blended.
- Fry the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the eggplant pieces in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Fry them until golden brown and tender, about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Combine eggplant and sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour the prepared sauce over the fried eggplants in the skillet. Stir gently to coat all the pieces evenly, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky, clinging beautifully to the eggplant.
- Garnish and serve: Transfer the sticky garlic eggplant to a serving dish and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately, ideally with steamed rice or as part of a larger meal.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to keep the dish vegan.
- Be sure to pat dry the eggplant well before frying to avoid sogginess.
- If you prefer less oil, you can use an air fryer, but traditional frying yields the best texture for this recipe.
- Low-sodium soy sauce helps control the salt level, making this dish suitable for a low-sodium diet.
Keywords: sticky garlic eggplant, fried eggplant, Asian eggplant recipe, vegetarian side dish, garlic soy sauce eggplant