Miso Glazed Japanese Eggplant (Printable)

Silky roasted eggplant with sweet-savory miso glaze, broiled until caramelized and bubbly.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Eggplant

01 - 2 medium Japanese eggplants

→ Miso Glaze

02 - 3 tablespoons white miso paste
03 - 1 tablespoon mirin
04 - 1 tablespoon sake
05 - 1 tablespoon sugar
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil

→ Garnish

07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Slice eggplants in half lengthwise. Score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern, being careful not to pierce the skin.
03 - Brush cut sides with a little sesame oil and place cut-side up on the baking sheet.
04 - Roast for 20-25 minutes, until the flesh is tender and golden.
05 - Whisk together the miso paste, mirin, sake, sugar, and remaining sesame oil in a small bowl until smooth.
06 - Remove eggplants from the oven. Spread a generous layer of miso glaze evenly over the cut sides.
07 - Set oven to broil. Broil eggplants for 2-3 minutes, until the glaze bubbles and caramelizes, watching closely to prevent burning.
08 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onions. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The glaze transforms simple eggplant into something that tastes like it came from a restaurant
  • Japanese eggplants naturally become creamy and tender without any bitter aftertaste
  • This recipe comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like you spent hours perfecting it
02 -
  • The glaze goes from perfectly caramelized to burnt incredibly fast under the broiler, so stand right there and watch it
  • Scoring the eggplant helps the glaze seep into the flesh and also helps it cook more evenly
  • Japanese eggplants are worth seeking out, but regular eggplants work if that's what you can find
03 -
  • Pat the eggplant dry with paper towels before oiling to help it roast rather than steam
  • Let the roasted eggplant cool for just a couple minutes before glazing so it spreads more easily
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