Silky, tender eggplant meets the rich umami depth of Noosa Black Garlic in this elegant dish inspired by a classic from Neil Perry's Spice Temple. The delicate sweetness of steamed eggplant acts as the perfect canvas for a punchy dressing of soy, black vinegar, ginger and chilli, while black garlic adds a subtle caramelised richness that ties everything together beautifully.
Whether served as a shared entrée, part of a banquet spread, or alongside grilled seafood and meats, this dish proves that simple ingredients can deliver extraordinary flavour.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the Eggplant
- 4 Asian eggplants, halved lengthways
- 1 tsp sea salt
For the Three-Flavour Dressing
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 2 tsp finely grated ginger
- 1 long red chilli, finely diced
- 2 spring onions, finely sliced
-
2 Noosa Black Garlic Cloves, finely mashed
or - 1 tsp Noosa Black Garlic - Pure Black Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
To Serve
- Extra spring onion, finely sliced
- Fresh coriander leaves
- Toasted sesame seeds
Method
Step 1: Steam the Eggplant
Using a sharp knife, lightly score the flesh of each eggplant half in a criss-cross pattern. Place into a steamer basket and steam for 12–15 minutes, or until completely tender and silky.
Transfer to a serving platter and lightly season with sea salt.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, black vinegar, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine and caster sugar until combined.
Add the ginger, chilli, spring onion and mashed Noosa Black Garlic Cloves (or Pure Black Garlic Paste). Stir until well incorporated.
Step 3: Assemble
Spoon the dressing generously over the warm eggplant.
Finish with extra spring onion, fresh coriander and toasted sesame seeds.
Serve immediately while warm.
Noosa Black Garlic Tip
For an extra layer of richness, finish the dish with a drizzle of Noosa Black Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil just before serving. Its award-winning flavour complements the sweet, savoury and aromatic elements of the dressing beautifully.
Why We Love This Recipe
The natural sweetness and umami complexity of Noosa Black Garlic enhances the traditional sweet-sour-salty balance of this dish without overpowering it. The result is a restaurant-quality plate that's surprisingly simple to prepare and guaranteed to impress.
Products Used:
- Noosa Black Garlic Cloves OR Noosa Black Garlic Pure Black Garlic Paste
- Noosa Black Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)