When I served this to my partner the other day,
he loved it so much and kept telling me how good it was.
And in my head I was like, “Yesssss!!” 😂
People often call this “vegan unagi” because vegans can’t eat eel, so this dish is introduced as an alternative. And yes — with a bit of technique, you can create that unagi-like texture, and adding sansho pepper makes the flavor even closer.
In Japan, it’s also known as nasu no kabayaki (なすのかば焼き)— sweet, savory, tender, and surprisingly satisfying.
15 minutes
Nozomi&Mirai | Plant-Based Sis
PROFILE
INGREDIENTS
SERVES 2
Original recipe (1X) yields 2 servings
When scaling the recipe, the ratios of some ingredients may require slight adjustments. Adjust as necessary and season to taste.
- 1 eggplant
- 2 bowls warm cooked rice
- N/A flour
- 2 tbsp oil
- A2 tbsp soy sauce
- A2 tbsp mirin
- A1 tbsp sugar
- A1 tbsp water
- A1 tsp dashi powder (optional)
- N/A toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- N/A green onions (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- 1
Peel the eggplant.
- 2
Steam until soft, then cut the surface flat for even browning.
- 3
Lightly coat one side with flour. Heat oil in a pan and pan-sear both sides until golden.
- 4
Remove the eggplant and wipe the excess oil. Add A soy sauce2 tbsp、mirin2 tbsp、sugar1 tbsp、water 1 tbsp、dashi powder1 tsp to the same pan and simmer on low until slightly thickened.
- 5
Return the eggplant and coat well with the sauce. Serve over warm cooked rice and top with toasted sesame seeds and green onions.
RecipeID
648
Tips & Notes
If you have sansho pepper, please put it on at the end.
You can use 2 small Japanese eggplants instead of 1 eggplant which you can get in Australia.
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We are Japanese sisters sharing the beauty of plant-based Japanese home cooking. Japanese cuisine has many dishes that can be made naturally vegan or easily adapted using plant-based ingredients. Drawing from our Japanese roots and everyday cooking experience, we create simple, approachable recipes that make Japanese food enjoyable for everyone. Nozomi lives in Japan, and Mirai lives in Australia. With perspectives from both inside and outside Japan, we focus on recipes that are practical, accessible, and easy to recreate at home. We hope our recipes inspire you to enjoy Japanese plant-based cooking in your daily life. Thank you for reading and cooking with us 🌿 Arigatou gozaimasu 🙇♀️