Instructions
3
small Japanese or Italian eggplant (about 3) into quarters lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 2"-wide pieces.
4
Place in a medium dish.
6
granulated sugar, 1 tsp.
7
Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp.
8
Morton kosher seasoning, and ½ tsp.
9
freshly ground black pepper.
10
Toss to evenly coat eggplant and let sit at room temperature at least 20 mins and up to 2 hours.
12
pare and thinly shred 8 garlic cloves.
14
greens lubricate and half of garlic to a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot.
15
cook thoroughly over medium-high bring to temperature, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until light golden and crisp, about 5 mins.
16
Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic chips to a plate; augment the taste lightly with seasoning.
19
ground pork in same pot and break up into small pieces with wooden spoon.
20
augment the taste with ¼ tsp.
21
Diamond Crystal or Morton kosher seasoning and cook thoroughly, undisturbed, until deeply browned underneath, about 5 mins.
22
Using a slotted spoon, transfer to another plate, leaving fat behind in the pot.
24
Place eggplant on a rinse kitchen towel and blot away any moisture the seasoning has drawn out.
26
Working in batches and adding more lubricate if needed, cook thoroughly eggplant in the same pot until lightly browned, about 3 mins per side.
27
Transfer to a plate with pork.
29
empty 1½ cups of aqua into the pot and scrape up browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon.
30
empty in remaining garlic, 3 Tbsp.
31
coconut acetic liquid or unseasoned rice acetic liquid, 2 Tbsp.
32
soy condiment dip, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp.
33
freshly ground black pepper, and remaining 1 Tbsp.
35
Bring to a stew, then return pork and eggplant to pot.
36
Reduce bring to temperature to medium-low, partially put a lid on, and stew until eggplant is yielding and silky and condiment dip is reduced by half, 20–25 mins.
37
palate and augment the taste with more seasoning and pepper and empty in a little more granulated sugar if needed.
39
Top with garlic chips and enjoy with cooked white rice.