Braised Eggplant with Salted Fish in Soy Sauce

Braised Eggplant with Salted Fish in Soy Sauce

This **Clay Pot Eggplant with Salted Fish and Ground Meat** is a savory, aromatic dish that brings together tender eggplant, umami-rich salted fish, and flavorful ground meat in a comforting one-pot meal. The eggplant is first coated in starch and fried to golden perfection, ensuring a crispy exterior while staying soft inside. Layered with onions in a clay pot, it absorbs the bold flavors of stir-fried scallions, spicy chili peppers, and savory salted fish. A splash of soy sauce and a slow simmer meld everything into a rich, fragrant stew. The finishing touch of chicken essence and fresh scallions elevates the dish with depth and freshness. Perfect with steamed rice, this recipe delivers a satisfying balance of textures and tastes—crispy, tender, spicy, and deeply savory. Try it with bean paste soy sauce for an extra layer of umami!

15 Minutes
Medium
4 servings

Ingredients

Metric US
4 serving

Main Ingredients

🥩
eggplant
1 medium (about 300g)
🥩
ground meat
150g
🥩
salted fish
50g

The aromatics

🧅
onion
½ medium (about 100g)
🧅
starch
3-4 tablespoons
🧅
red chili peppers
2-3 pieces
🧅
scallions
2 stalks (for garnish and stir-fry)
🧅
water
½ cup (100ml)

The sauce & seasonings

🧂
oil
4 tablespoons (divided)
🧂
soy sauce
2 tablespoons
🧂
salt
to taste
🧂
chicken essence
1 teaspoon

Instructions

1. Step 1

Step 1
Cut the eggplant into strips, add 3-4 tablespoons of starch, and mix well.

2. Step 2

Step 2
Place onion slices at the bottom of the clay pot.

3. Step 3

Step 3
Fry the eggplant in a pot of oil until the surface is slightly yellow.

4. Step 4

Step 4
Drain the oil and place the eggplant on top of the onions in the clay pot.

5. Step 5

Step 5
Sprinkle a small amount of salt.

6. Step 6

Step 6
Add a small amount of soy sauce.

7. Step 7

Step 7
Heat another pot of oil, and add chopped scallions, ground meat, diced salted fish, and red chili peppers to stir-fry until fragrant.

8. Step 8

Step 8
Add the fried eggplant on top, and add half a bowl of water.

9. Step 9

Step 9
Cover the lid, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

10. Step 10

Step 10
After cooking, stir well, add chicken essence, and sprinkle with scallions.

11. Step 11

Step 11
My trial: use bean paste soy sauce.

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