Meals that start with eggplant and connect us

Late summer twilight.
Even on days when the heat lingers, the signs of autumn are certainly arriving.
It is the time when the vegetables on our dining table begin to change their attire little by little.

Eggplant is an indispensable companion at such a turning point of the seasons.
From one dish to the next.
Meals that connect to one another make daily life a little gentler.

[Mapo Eggplant]
A dish to enjoy the remnants of summer with a spicy flavor that goes well with rice.
Ingredients (for 2-3 people)
• Eggplant ... 3
• Ground pork ... 150g
• Long onion ... 1/2 stalk
• Ginger/Garlic ... 1 clove each
• Doubanjiang (spicy bean paste) ... 1 tsp
• Tianmianjiang (sweet bean paste) ... 1 tbsp
• Soy sauce ... 1 tbsp
• Sake ... 1 tbsp
• Chicken stock ... 150ml

Instructions
1. Cut the eggplant into irregular chunks and quickly stir-fry in oil.
2. Stir-fry the ground meat, long onion, ginger, and garlic, then add the seasonings.
3. Return the eggplant to the pan and simmer until coated.

[Deep-fried Eggplant in Dashi]
Transform the eggplant used in the Mapo Eggplant into something refreshing.

Ingredients
• Eggplant ... 2
• Dashi stock ... 200ml
• Soy sauce ... 2 tbsp
• Mirin ... 1 tbsp

Instructions
1. Deep-fry the eggplant as is.
2. Place in the pickling liquid while hot.
3. Chill in the refrigerator, and it becomes a cool treat for the next day.

[Remaking the Pickling Liquid]
Enjoy it down to the very last drop.
• Pickle cucumbers or tomatoes to make quick pickles.
• Use as a dipping sauce for somen noodles.

The cooking that started with eggplant connects to the next meal.
Such a chain of events makes the dining table warm.