Yaki Nasu (Grilled Eggplant) is one of my favourite Japanese side dishes. There are many variations for the sauce of this dish. I use a rice vinegar based sauce.

You can bake or grill the Japanese eggplant. Wash and dry the eggplants and then lightly coat with vegetable oil. Roast in a 425 Farenheit oven for about 30 minutes.

After about 30 minutes check the eggplant. The eggplants should be soft and the skin brown. If grilling a little charred is ok.

Cool the eggplants slightly and peel the skin. Then cut or shred the eggplant into bite size pieces.

Mix the sauce in a microwave bowl and microwave for about 45 seconds. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the sauce to the eggplant and mix gently. Cover and marinate in the fridge about 30 minutes.

Gluten-Free Marinated Japanese Eggplant (Yaki Nasu in Japanese)

Ingredients

• Japanese Eggplants
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or spray
• 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 Tablespoons gluten-free soya sauce
• 1 Tablespoon mirin
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Garnish: 1 Tablespoon roasted sesame seeds and 2 Tablespoons finely cut green onion. Or grated daikon can be added as a garnish too.

Directions

1. Wash and dry Japanese eggplants. Then rub with some vegetable oil.
2. Line a baking tray with foil and spray with oil. Bake the eggplants at 425 Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, until the eggplants are brown and soft. Alternatively you can grill the eggplant on a barbecue.
3. Cool the eggplants and peel. Shred the eggplant and place in a bowl.
4. Mix the rice vinegar, sugar, gluten-free soya sauce, mirin, sesame oil and grated ginger. Mix and microwave for about 45 seconds. Mix until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the sauce on the eggplant and mix.
5. Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions and red pepper flakes. You can also add grated daikon radish if you like.
6. Put in fridge and marinate for about 30 minutes.

You can eat it as is or garnish with roasted sesame seeds, finely chopped green onions and/or grated daikon. Goes well with rice.

Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns. Not sponsored. If sponsored I will always say so at the top of the post.