Japanese Aubergine Unagi

6 March 2025Saffron

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Serves: 2 people

Aubergine Unagi – This Japanese-inspired vegan recipe is originally made with eel, but it’s also AMAZING with aubergine. The aubergine is first steamed until beautifully tender, then fried in vegetable oil until crispy on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth on the inside. Then comes the best part: it’s braised in a rich, glossy sauce packed with all the incredible umami flavours of Japanese cuisine. Think soy sauce, mirin, and sake coming together to create a sweet, savoury, and deeply satisfying glaze. If you love bold, complex flavours, this Aubergine Unagi recipe is a must-try!

This vegan unagi take on the classic Japanese unagi donburi is so good, you won’t miss the eel! The aubergine soaks up all the delicious sauce while maintaining its luscious, silky texture. Serve it over a bowl of steamed rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced spring onions for a simple yet flavour-packed meal. Whether you’re a fan of authentic Japanese flavours, looking for new vegan-friendly dishes, or just love aubergine, this recipe is guaranteed to impress.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

✔️ Incredible Umami Flavour – The sweet-savoury sauce coats every bite, making it rich, complex, and irresistible.
✔️ Easy & Accessible – No need for hard-to-find ingredients; everything can be sourced from your local supermarket.
✔️ Vegan-Friendly Alternative – All the deliciousness of traditional unagi, minus the eel!
✔️ Quick & Satisfying – Ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for a flavourful weeknight dinner.

If you’ve never tried Aubergine Unagi before, now’s the time! This dish is proof that aubergine can be so much more than just another vegetable—it’s the perfect canvas for bold Japanese flavours. Serve with these Pickled Daikons for extra freshness and kick!

Recipe inspired by The Woks of Life.

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Japanese Aubergine Unagi

6 March 2025Saffron

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Serves: 2 people

Ingredients

Main Ingredient

2 Aubergines
2-3 tbsp Vegetable oil

Sauce

1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp oyster sauce, use vegan option if you like
1 tsp fish sauce, use vegan option if you like
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp water

To serve

Steamed white rice
Finely chopped spring onions
Toasted sesame seeds

Method

1)
Prepare your steamer so it’s ready to go.
2)
Peel the aubergines and chop off the ends. Place them in the steamer.
3)
Steam at medium heat for 18 – 20 minutes, until a knife pierces through the aubergine easily.
4)
Mix all the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
5)
Remove the aubergines from the steamer and let cool slightly. Using 2 forks carefully tear the aubergines open and light flatten them into flat steaks.
6)
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Pan-fry the aubergine on both sides until golden brown on each side. ± 3-4 minutes on each side (Add more oil if needed).
7)
Pour the sauce mixture into the pan, and let bubble until reduced by half. Run each piece of aubergine through the sticky sauce.
8)
Serve with steamed rice, topped off with sesame seeds and spring onions.