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    Home » Sides » Miso Glazed Eggplant

    Miso Glazed Eggplant

    Jun 6, 2023 · by Valentina · 24 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Miso Eggplant is loaded with umami, sweet and savory flavors. Perfect over rice, it's a fantastic side dish, and it's hearty enough for a vegan main course, too. This is the most delicious way to eat eggplant!

    Blue and white rectangle-shaped plate with miso eggplant and a few fresh mint leaves, on a red silk cloth with chopsticks.

    If you're not so sure about eggplant, this Miso Eggplant recipe is a must.

    There's no better way to eat eggplant as far as I'm concerned. You might like it other ways, but I think you'll love it this way.

    Sweet and spicy Asian flavors that glaze the eggplant, seep deep into every bite, which is soft on the inside with a very subtle "crust" on the outside created from caramelized ingredients.

    Miso Glazed Japanese Eggplant is called Nasu Dengaku in Japanese.

    The Ingredients

    Ingredients for miso marinated eggplant in bowls and on cutting board, including miso paste, mint, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chili paste, mirin, sugar and eggplant.
    • eggplant - The best varieties to use for Miso Eggplant are Japanese and Chinese. Both are long and skinny, with the latter being lighter in color. They have fewer seeds, are slightly less bitter, and have a thinner skin.
    • white or light miso paste - Miso is a traditional Japanese ingredient made from fermented soybeans. There are three main types of miso paste: white miso, or Shiro miso, red miso or Aka miso, and yellow miso or Shinshu miso. White miso paste is the most mild and works well with the other ingredients in this recipe. You can find it in most grocery stores and definitely in Asian markets.
    • chili paste - I use Sambal Oelek.
    • mirin - Mirin is a sweet rice wine and you should be able to find it in any Asian market and in most larger grocery stores.
    • low sodium soy sauce or Tamari - Tamari is slightly thicker and richer than regular soy sauce, and it's usually gluten-free. You can use either one.
    • sugar
    • fresh garlic - Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots. Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots. (Pro tip: if there are green shoots in garlic you already have, just cut the cloves in half and remove them with the tip of a paring knife. The rest of the clove should still be good.)
    • fresh ginger - Fresh ginger roots should be firm and feel heavy for their size. The best way to grate it for the miso sauce is with a microplane zester.
    • grapeseed oil - Or other neutral oil like vegetable.
    • dry sherry - This is used to deglaze the pan after everything is caramelized and the eggplant is cooked. It also adds a wonderful nut-like sweet flavor.

    (See recipe card below for quantities.)

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Miso paste. Miso paste is a very unique ingredient that's easy to find, and since this is Miso Eggplant, we really can't take away the miso. That said, you can make a dish reminiscent of this using an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of soy sauce instead.
    • chili paste. The chili past can be substituted with finely minced hot peppers, like Thai or Serrano. Sriracha sauce can also be used as a substitute.
    • fresh garlic. Minced shallots can substitute the garlic, but since it's less pungent and less sharp, use a bit more of the chili paste. You can also substitute it with about the half the amount of granulated garlic or garlic powder.
    • fresh ginger. Though fresh is the best for this recipe, you can use about half of the amount of ground ginger if necessary.
    • fresh mint. Fresh basil can be used instead of the mint, or use a combination. Toasted sesame seeds are also a great additional garnish.
    • This recipe also works with zucchini or yellow squash.
    • If you want to add a protein like tofu, meat, chicken or fish, do so after it's cooked, and after the eggplant is ready. Thinly sliced steak, sliced chicken, cubed tofu or broiled fish would be great. The tofu is best if it's browned fist, but it can also be added raw.

    Recipe Tips

    • Be sure your pan is hot enough when you add the marinated eggplant. You should hear a sizzling sound when it hits the pan -- if you don't, wait for it to get hotter.
    • If you're not sure how much heat you want, don't add the chili paste to the marinade -- wait until you've finished cooking the eggplant, and season to taste with it then.
    • Gluten free? If you're gluten-free, or cooking for someone who is, be sure to use either Tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce, and gluten-free miso paste (not all of them are).
    • 15 to 30 minutes is all you need for the marinating. Don't exceed 45 minutes.

    How to Make it

    - In a bowl large enough to hold all of the eggplant, whisk the miso paste with the mirin, soy sauce, chili paste, garlic, ginger and sugar.

    Reddish-yellow-colored Miso marinade in a glass bowl with a whisk.

    - Cut the eggplant into approx. 3 x ½-inch sticks, and add them to the miso mixture as you go.

    Eggplants on cutting board with large knife and cut sticks of eggplant.

    - Mix gently to ensure all of it has been evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate for about 30 minutes at room temperature.

    Raw eggplant sticks in a large glass bowl coated in miso marinade.

    - Coat the bottom of a large skillet (about 14-inch) with the oil and place it over medium-high heat. Once it's very hot, add the eggplant, including any excess marinade. Mixing occasionally, sauté until the eggplant is golden and soft, about 8 minutes. Turn the heat to medium-low about halfway through.

    - Pour in the sherry to deglaze the pan. Then turn the heat up again, and use a flat-edged metal spatula to scrape all of the stuck bits of the marinade from the bottom of the pan into the eggplant. Cook just until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 30 seconds or so.

    - Add a few mint small leaves to the eggplant and serve over rice (if desired).

    Serving Suggestions

    • Serving Miso Glazed Eggplant with rice isn't imperative, but it's an excellent way to ensure you get every last drop of the sauce. Coconut Cilantro Rice and Miso Fried Rice are both great choices.
    • Noodles are also a delicious way to soak up any sauce left on the plate. Soba or Udon would be perfect.
    • This dish is excellent served alongside Broiled Black Cod, Asian Pear Marinated Steak or Garlic-Ginger Tofu.
    • While Miso Eggplant is a lovely side dish, you can easily turn it into a vegetarian main course by serving it over rice and adding spinach, gai lan or bok choy and tofu.

    Can you make it ahead?

    While you can make this a day or so ahead and reheat it, it's at its best right out of the pan. You'll miss the slightly crispy edges if it's eaten a day later. That said, it will still be outrageously delicious!

    Other Eggplant Favorites

    • Vegetarian Potato Eggplant Moussaka
    • Eggplant Cakes with Lemon Sauce
    Close up of blue and white rectangle-shaped plate with miso eggplant and a few fresh mint leaves, on a red silk cloth with chopsticks.

    More Recipes with Miso

    • Miso Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Sheet Pan Miso Pork Chops with Broccolini

    Why are Eggplants called Eggplants?

    Just in case you're curious . . . .

    Small, Thai eggplants are a whitish, yellowish color and have the shape of a goose egg. And because of these particular fruits, in the 18th century, the name eggplant was born.

    Yes, though eaten as a vegetable, technically eggplants are a fruit -- a berry actually! So Spicy Miso Eggplant is actually a fresh fruit dish.

    Whether it's dark purple or burgundy, small and cute, long and thin, or big and round, it's still an eggplant.

    I hope you love this Spicy Miso Eggplant as much as I do!

    Blue and white rectangle-shaped plate with miso eggplant and a few fresh mint leaves, on a red silk cloth with chopsticks.

    Miso Eggplant Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    Miso Eggplant is loaded with umami, sweet and savory flavors. Perfect over rice, it's hearty enough for a vegan main course, and works as a fantastic side dish, too. This is the most delicious way to eat eggplant!
    *If you'd like to serve this as a main course (over rice), double the recipe.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Marinating 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4
    Calories 189 kcal

    Equipment

    • microplane zester

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup light or white miso paste (Shiro-Miso)
    • 3 tablespoons mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce or Tamari
    • 2 teaspoons chili paste
    • 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
    • 1½ teaspoons fresh ginger pulp
    • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
    • 1½ pounds eggplant, washed and dried
    • 2 tablespoons neutral oil for the pan (vegetable or grapeseed)
    • ⅓ cup dry sherry
    • small handful of fresh mint leaves

    Instructions
     

    • Prep the sauce/marinade. In a large mixing bowl (that will eventually hold all of the eggplant), whisk the miso paste with the mirin, soy sauce, chili paste, garlic, ginger and sugar. Set aside.
    • Prep and marinate eggplant. Cut the eggplant into sticks that are approximately 3-inches long and ½-inch wide. Add them to the miso mixture as you go. Mix gently to ensure all of it has been evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate for about 30 minutes at room temperature.
    • Cook. Coat the bottom of a large skillet (about 14-inch) with the oil and place it over medium-high heat. Once it's very hot, add the eggplant, including any excess marinade. It should sizzle immediately -- if it doesn't, wait until the pan is hot enough! Mixing occasionally, sauté until the eggplant is golden and soft, about 8 minutes. Turn the heat to medium-low about halfway through.
      Pour in the sherry to deglaze the pan. Then turn the heat up again, and use a flat-edged metal spatula to scrape all of the stuck bits of the marinade from the bottom of the pan into the eggplant. Cook just until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 30 seconds or so.
    • Serve. Add a few mint small leaves to the eggplant and serve over rice (if desired).

    NOTES

    Nutritional information is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keywords unique vegan sides, best eggplant recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes

      June 07, 2023 at 3:06 am

      Eggplants are one of very few vegetables I can eat without tummy issues. This sounds and looks fabulous with miso.
      angiesrecipes

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 07, 2023 at 8:10 pm

        Thanks so much, Angie. Happy eggplant works for you. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    2. Christy

      June 08, 2023 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      Soooo yummy! We couldn't find miso paste at the grocery store so we just doubled the soy sauce and ended up putting a little bit more sugar. We made it with udon noodles. Mm!! Will keep this bookmarked.

      Reply
      • valentina

        June 08, 2023 at 11:43 am

        Christy, so happy you loved this! I LOVE udon noodles! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Healthy World Cuisine

      June 09, 2023 at 5:03 am

      5 stars
      Love all these umami flavors in your miso eggplant. Spicy, savory and such a delicious main or side dish.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 09, 2023 at 2:12 pm

        Thank you! Enjoy. 😀 ~Valentina

        Reply
    4. Eha

      June 09, 2023 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      Gosh, we are fortunate in Australia as I can buy miso paste even in my country sores and supermarkets! Seven kinds are mostly there as a choice - I basically keep tan and red at home but white is easy to get. Dry sherry is a good substitute if one has run out of the Asian brews. I do like this recipe as I usually just halve the Asian eggplants and, since I also love zucchini, may ry this recipe with the latter.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 11:59 am

        So great you can get Miso everywhere. I love that it keeps so well so we can always have it at the ready. Thanks for visiting. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    5. Frank | Memorie di Angelina

      June 11, 2023 at 7:49 am

      I've had this (or something quite like it) at Japanese restaurants and I can attest that it's perfectly delicious! And now that you've provided the recipe, I may give it a go at home. 🙂

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm

        I hope you love it, Frank. Thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    6. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      June 11, 2023 at 8:19 am

      I'm not the biggest eggplant fan, but the interesting flavors in this dish make me want to re-think that.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm

        Thanks, Jeff. It's not high on my list either, but I LOVE it this way. Hope you will too. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    7. Dawn

      June 12, 2023 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      I bet the eggplants soak up all those delicious flavours! It looks really, really yummy, Valentina. This would go so well with your miso rice...and now I'm seriously hungry. 😉

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm

        I hope you love it, Dawn. Thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    8. Marissa

      June 12, 2023 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      Putting the ingredients on our shopping list because my mouth is watering just thinking about all of these flavors! Plus I love eggplant, so this is a must!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm

        Yay! Hope it's a hit. Thanks, Marissa. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    9. sherry

      June 12, 2023 at 11:12 pm

      I love Japanese flavours and i love eggplant so this is a winner for me!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:02 pm

        Thanks, Sherry. I hope you enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    10. Raymund | angsarap.net

      June 15, 2023 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, your recipe for miso glazed eggplant sounds absolutely mouthwatering! I'm always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy eggplant, and this one seems like a winner.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:03 pm

        I think you'll love it. Thanks! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    11. David Scott Allen

      June 19, 2023 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner the other night — as a main, not a side. So fantastic! We will make it over and over!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        June 23, 2023 at 12:03 pm

        This made my day, David! Thanks so much and I'm so happy you liked it. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • David Scott Allen

          August 18, 2023 at 10:04 am

          5 stars
          Made this again last night and added quartered baby Bok Choy — just fantastic! Truly a favorite!

          Reply
          • Valentina

            August 23, 2023 at 4:34 pm

            Yay!! Beautiful color combination with the bok choy. 🙂 ~Valentina

            Reply

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