Japanese Style Eggplant Skewers

Easy (2874) Healthy (1888) Vegetarian (1517) Simple (966) Vegan (744) Gluten Free (672) Vegetables (486) Snacks (239) Low Fat (183) Clean Eating (137)

A variation on the Grilled Miso Eggplant these Japanese Style Eggplant Skewers can be found on any Izakaya menu. The eggplant, miso and rice malt syrup combine to frame the basic taste elements; umami (savoury), salty, sweet, and mild hints of bitterness. Is there any wonder vegetarians and meat lovers alike find these eggplant skewers so delicious and moreish.

Japanese Style Eggplant Skewers can be found on any Izakaya menu with vegetarians and meat lovers finding these skewers delicious and moreish.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 Skewers or 1 Tapas serving

Ingredients
1 Small Eggplant
2 Tablespoons Mirin
2 Tablespoons Sake
2 Tablespoons Rice Malt Syrup
4 Tablespoons Red Miso Paste
Sesame Seeds and steamed Spinach or Silverbeet to Garnish

Method

In a small bowl combine the mirin, sake, rice malt syrup and red miso paste and whisk thoroughly to make the miso glaze.

Combine the mirin, sake, rice malt syrup and red miso paste to make the eggplant glaze.

Slice the eggplant into thick rounds and then into quarters.

Pre-heat a BBQ or Grill to 180-200°C.

Thread the eggplant quarters onto soaked skewers and brush with extra virgin olive oil. Place the skewers on the BBQ or under the grill and cook for approximately 15-20 minutes.

Thread the eggplant quarters onto soaked wooden skewers and brush with extra virgin olive oil.

While the eggplant is cooking, steam some spinach or silverbeet.

Remove the skewers and brush the tops of the eggplant with the miso glaze.

Return the eggplant skewers to the BBQ or grill and cook for a further 2-4 minutes or until the miso glaze starts to caramelise.

BBQ or grill the Eggplant Skewers prior to basting with the miso glaze then continue to cook until the glaze has caramelised and the eggplant is tender.

Arrange the steamed spinach onto a serving plate and place the Japanese Style Eggplant Skewers onto the spinach. Garnish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

These Japanese Style Eggplant Skewers make a great accompaniment to other Japanese tapa dishes such as Misoyaki BBQ Chicken and BBQ Mushroom Skewers.

Notes
I used Spiral Foods Mirin, it’s readily available at any Asian Supermarket or Health Food Store.

I used Hikari Miso paste, as their products are gluten free. Their products are readily available from any Asian Supermarket or local supermarkets Coles and Woolworths.