Flavorful Braised Eggplant & Tofu: An Easy, Delicious Vegan Dish

Braised eggplant with tofu is a delicious and nutritious dish, perfect for a family meal. With its rich and savory flavor, this dish is sure to please everyone at your table. Let’s explore how to make this simple yet delightful braised eggplant with tofu with “So Tay Mon An” website right now.

Ingredients

• Eggplant: 3 fruits (approx. 700g)
• Tofu: 5 pieces
• Green onions: 2 stalks
• Cilantro: 5 sprigs
• Red dates: 100g
• Vegetarian sausage/patty: 100g (1 piece)
• Kumquats: 4 fruits
• Garlic: 4 cloves
• Dried cinnamon stick: 1 piece
• Star anise: 1 whole
• Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
• Corn syrup: 2 tablespoons (or 1/4 tablespoon sugar)
• Vegetarian oyster sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Chili sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Vegetarian fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Cooking oil: 100ml
• Common seasonings: A little (Salt/sugar/seasoning powder/MSG/pepper)

Ingredients for Braised Eggplant with Tofu

How to Make Braised Eggplant with Tofu

Prepare the Eggplant

Wash the eggplants, cut off the stems, then slice the eggplants diagonally into pieces about 1/2 finger-thick. Place the sliced eggplant into a bowl of diluted saltwater, squeeze in the juice from 4 kumquats, soak for about 3 minutes, then remove and drain well. Put the eggplant into a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, and toss to coat evenly.

Preparing eggplant for braised dish

Prepare Other Ingredients

Wash green onions and cilantro, discard tough ends, and cut into 2-finger lengths. Wash red dates and drain. Peel and finely mince garlic. Briefly rinse tofu with water, then cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1-finger thick. Slice the vegetarian sausage diagonally into round pieces, about 1/2 finger-thick.

Preparing other ingredients for braised tofu

Fry the Eggplant

Heat a pan over medium heat, add 100ml cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add the eggplant and fry for about 3-4 minutes until lightly golden on both sides, then remove and drain excess oil.

Frying eggplant for braised tofu

Braise Eggplant with Tofu

Using the same pan, leave about 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Over medium heat, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Add 1 tablespoon vegetarian fish sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon chili sauce, 1/2 teaspoon MSG, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 dried cinnamon stick, and 1 star anise to the pan. Add tofu, red dates, vegetarian sausage, stir gently, and then pour in 100ml of filtered water.

Continue to braise for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add 2 tablespoons corn syrup, then add the fried eggplant and stir well. Season to taste. Finally, add green onions and cilantro, then turn off the heat.

Braised eggplant and tofu simmering

Final Dish

The finished braised eggplant with tofu has a rich, creamy texture from the eggplant and tofu, fragrant notes of cinnamon and star anise, and a savory, flavorful sauce. You can enjoy this dish with rice or vermicelli.

Finished Braised Eggplant with Tofu dish

Tips for Choosing Fresh Eggplant

• You should choose eggplants with shiny, evenly colored skin, and a fresh stem firmly attached.
• They should feel firm and heavy when held; when pressed, they should be hard.
• Avoid choosing eggplants with wrinkled skin or those that feel soft when pressed, as these are old.
• Also, avoid eggplants with uneven coloring or black spots on the skin, as they will not have a natural sweetness when eaten.

How to Prevent Eggplant from Turning Brown

After slicing the eggplant, place the pieces in a bowl of diluted saltwater and soak for 15 minutes. This will help the eggplant retain its crispness, release its sap, and prevent it from turning brown.

Other Recipe Suggestions

You can refer to some other tofu dishes such as Stuffed Tofu Braised in Coconut Water to diversify your family’s menu.

If you want to try more braised dishes, check out Young Jackfruit Braised with Fermented Bean Paste for additional meal options.

Conclusion

Braised eggplant with tofu is an easy-to-make and delicious dish, suitable for all family members. With detailed instructions from “So Tay Mon An”, you can confidently cook and prepare this dish yourself. Try it now and experience the rich flavor of braised eggplant with tofu!

If you like this dish, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family to enjoy together. We wish you success and delicious meals!