Vegan Unagi Donburi
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 4 servings
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- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Calories
- 526
- Total Fat
- 1 grams
- Saturated Fat
- 0 grams
- Cholesterol
- 0 milligrams
- Sodium
- 1814 milligrams
- Carbohydrates
- 116 grams
- Dietary Fiber
- 4 grams
- Sugar
- 18 grams
- Protein
- 10 grams
- Total: 25 min
- Active: 25 min
Ingredients
1/3 cup mirin
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons vegan sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons vegan sake
1 heaping teaspoon grated ginger
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 large Japanese or Chinese eggplant (about 1 pound), trimmed, peeled and halved crosswise, then cut lengthwise into slices about 1/3 inch thick
Neutral oil, for brushing
6 scant cups steamed sushi rice
Sansho pepper, for sprinkling, optional
Toasted sesame seeds, for sprinkling, optional
Directions
- Stir together the mirin, soy sauce, sugar, sake, ginger and half of the scallions in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium heat until hot. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with oil, add them to the skillet and cook, occasionally pressing down on each slice with tongs or a spatula, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the slices and cook, occasionally pressing down on each slice with tongs or a spatula, until golden brown on the other side, about 3 minutes more.
- Pour the reserved sauce into the skillet, lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the eggplant is almost tender and the sauce is reduced by about half, about 3 minutes. Flip and simmer, uncovered, until just tender and the sauce resembles a thick glaze, about 2 minutes more. Baste and remove from the heat. (If the sauce gets too thick during the cooking process, stir in a little water. Conversely, if the eggplant is tender, but the sauce is too thin, plate the eggplant and continue to reduce the sauce.)
- Divide the rice among 4 bowls and top with the eggplant slices, slightly overlapping. Drizzle with extra sauce, then sprinkle with sansho pepper and sesame seeds, if using, and the remaining scallions.