Spicy Peanut Eggplant

Apart from boxed macaroni & cheese and other “foods” of that nature, before I went vegan I knew how to cook exactly one dish: eggplant parmesan. I don’t even remember what inspired me to learn how to cook that, but it was my big speciality. Of course, it went by the wayside when I went vegan, and for some reason I never showed any further interest in eggplant. I think I over-eggplanted on the eggplant parmesan. It’s ridiculous to continue to avoid eggplant as it’s been 11 years now, although I don’t actually avoid eggplant, it just never occurs to me to buy it. That is, until I saw the adorable “purple pixie” eggplants at Wegmans last night. I should have taken a picture. They’re tiny and so cute!

I don’t know why, but I had decided I wanted to make something with the eggplants involving peanut sauce. Maybe because that’s the furthest thing I could think of from parmesan? At any rate, I got home quite late tonight and had a hunch that Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian would contain what I was looking for. I was not disappointed. It had exactly what I was looking for and what’s more, it was nearly instant: Cold Eggplants in a Spicy Peanut Sauce.

Spicy Peanut Eggplant
(lightly) adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian

10 oz small or baby eggplants, quartered or halved then cut into 2″ pieces
4 tsp natural peanut butter
4 tsp soy sauce
4 tsp vinegar
2 tsp Shaoxing (Chinese rice) wine (or try sake)
4 drops stevia (or 2 tsp sugar or agave nectar)
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp chili garlic paste
thumb-size piece garlic, grated
1 cube frozen cilantro (or a handful fresh, chopped)

Steam the eggplant pieces until tender. Jaffrey suggests 10-15 minutes, however, I checked after 9 minutes and mine were very over-done, so for particularly delicate eggplants, check after 5 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. Toss with the eggplant and serve cold or at room temperature.

I realized I was going to have much more sauce than I needed, so I cooked a bundle of soba noodles to toss the leftover sauce with:

In cat news, Brachtune likes to sleep in my reading chair:

You are probably wondering why I never take any photos of Brachtune that don’t involve her lounging around in that chair. Well, the fact of the matter is, Brachtune spends a good 95% of her time there.

I spend a lot of my time there as well, such as right now. Since we are competing for the spot, Brachtune is currently standing on me and kneading at my stomach, which is cute but also annoying because she’s always messing with my belly button ring. This is what Brachtune looks like when she wakes up and realizes I intend to claim my chair:

And this is what she does to make herself as super-adorable as possible in hopes that I will change my mind:

It never works. I just scoop her up and put her on my lap and then she sits there purring and drooling all over me. And sitting on my arm when I’m trying to type…

20 Comments »

  1. Xiaolu Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 9:01 am

    Yum! My mom actually used to make a very similar dish. I own that book and have heard wondrous things but am ashamed to say I’ve used it very little so far. Aww…your cat really is adorbs.

  2. Xiaolu Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 9:01 am

    Yum! My mom actually used to make a very similar dish. I own that book and have heard wondrous things but am ashamed to say I’ve used it very little so far. Aww…your cat really is adorbs.

  3. trinity Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 10:58 am

    yum! i have some japanese eggplant growing in my garden, so i’ll have to try this out.

    your kitty’s so pretty- where did you get the name Brachtune from?

  4. trinity Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 10:58 am

    yum! i have some japanese eggplant growing in my garden, so i’ll have to try this out.

    your kitty’s so pretty- where did you get the name Brachtune from?

  5. Josiane Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 12:53 pm

    Peanut and eggplant is an intriguing mix – I wouldn’t have thought of it myself, but now that you’re talking about it… Yum!

  6. Josiane Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 12:53 pm

    Peanut and eggplant is an intriguing mix – I wouldn’t have thought of it myself, but now that you’re talking about it… Yum!

  7. Jes Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

    Brach is such a camera whore! Too cute! And I’m adding that eggplant to my list. Nom.

  8. Jes Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

    Brach is such a camera whore! Too cute! And I’m adding that eggplant to my list. Nom.

  9. Erin Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 2:21 pm

    Your eggplants look pretty good! I was never a big eggplant fan in general, but I think I’m coming around to them. I never thought to steam them either, that’s a good idea.

  10. Erin Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 2:21 pm

    Your eggplants look pretty good! I was never a big eggplant fan in general, but I think I’m coming around to them. I never thought to steam them either, that’s a good idea.

  11. Maka Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 3:08 pm

    Just picked an eggplant! I will be trying this soon. On another note, I have been reading that Nasoya Silken Creations has something new. Non-dairy Starter for Smoothies and desserts! I have been looking for them and finally found them at the Blooms in Manassas, Va (on route 234-I think you said you are in Northern, VA) Haven’t tried the Strawberry or Vanilla, but the Chocolate is amazing! I have been a vegan for only about a year, so I remember what chocolate pudding is SUPPOSED to take like. You really should try it!

  12. Maka Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 3:08 pm

    Just picked an eggplant! I will be trying this soon. On another note, I have been reading that Nasoya Silken Creations has something new. Non-dairy Starter for Smoothies and desserts! I have been looking for them and finally found them at the Blooms in Manassas, Va (on route 234-I think you said you are in Northern, VA) Haven’t tried the Strawberry or Vanilla, but the Chocolate is amazing! I have been a vegan for only about a year, so I remember what chocolate pudding is SUPPOSED to take like. You really should try it!

  13. renae Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

    Xiaolu, I don’t use that cookbook as often as I should either, but I don’t know why because it is really good. It’s especially great if you shop at Asian grocery stores and end up coming home with stuff you aren’t sure what to do with, and it’s full of ideas I’d never have dreamed of on my own.

    Trinity, scroll down a bit in this post to read about Brachtune’s name.

    Josiane, I must have flipped past that recipe in the past or something because I have no idea why the combination of eggplants and peanut butter came to me, but it is surprisingly good!

    Erin, if you can find them, try something like the little purple pixies I found: they might be a little more appealing than the big purple ones you may be used to.

    Maka, I’ll have to keep an eye out for that stuff: I love making smoothies after I’ve gone swimming. I’m in Fairfax; I wouldn’t be surprised if Wegmans or Whole Foods has it, but if not, my friends are moving to Manassas in a couple of weeks so I’ll be spending more time there.

  14. renae Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

    Xiaolu, I don’t use that cookbook as often as I should either, but I don’t know why because it is really good. It’s especially great if you shop at Asian grocery stores and end up coming home with stuff you aren’t sure what to do with, and it’s full of ideas I’d never have dreamed of on my own.

    Trinity, scroll down a bit in this post to read about Brachtune’s name.

    Josiane, I must have flipped past that recipe in the past or something because I have no idea why the combination of eggplants and peanut butter came to me, but it is surprisingly good!

    Erin, if you can find them, try something like the little purple pixies I found: they might be a little more appealing than the big purple ones you may be used to.

    Maka, I’ll have to keep an eye out for that stuff: I love making smoothies after I’ve gone swimming. I’m in Fairfax; I wouldn’t be surprised if Wegmans or Whole Foods has it, but if not, my friends are moving to Manassas in a couple of weeks so I’ll be spending more time there.

  15. Mandee Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 7:23 pm

    That looks like a delicious meal, anything with peanuts is for me! And your cat is gorgeous, looks like one of mine <3

  16. Mandee Said,

    August 19, 2009 @ 7:23 pm

    That looks like a delicious meal, anything with peanuts is for me! And your cat is gorgeous, looks like one of mine <3

  17. Danielle Said,

    August 23, 2009 @ 2:56 pm

    Your cat is perpetually rumpled!

  18. Danielle Said,

    August 23, 2009 @ 2:56 pm

    Your cat is perpetually rumpled!

  19. Dawne Said,

    August 27, 2009 @ 7:53 am

    Hi Renae! I have admired your blog ever since my first tentative steps into veganism, almost a year ago now! Yours is one of my top favorite vegan blogs and has been very inspirational – I am really impressed by the breadth and depth of your culinary efforts in the kitchen! I am actually considering starting my own blog and wondered if I could contact you via email to ask a few questions, mostly about etiquette but also for resources? If you think you’d have time to answer them, please contact me at dc3eng@gmail.com. Thanks – hope to hear from you!

  20. Dawne Said,

    August 27, 2009 @ 7:53 am

    Hi Renae! I have admired your blog ever since my first tentative steps into veganism, almost a year ago now! Yours is one of my top favorite vegan blogs and has been very inspirational – I am really impressed by the breadth and depth of your culinary efforts in the kitchen! I am actually considering starting my own blog and wondered if I could contact you via email to ask a few questions, mostly about etiquette but also for resources? If you think you’d have time to answer them, please contact me at dc3eng@gmail.com. Thanks – hope to hear from you!

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