Grilled Japanese Eggplant with an Asian Vinaigrette

Elevate your summer grilling game with this flavorful recipe for Grilled Japanese Eggplant with an Asian Vinaigrette—a perfect fusion of smoky charred vegetables and tangy, savory dressing. Tender Japanese eggplants are grilled to perfection, their creamy insides soaking up a vibrant dressing made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, and aromatic ginger and garlic. A hint of red chili flakes adds gentle heat, while scallions and toasted sesame seeds provide the perfect finishing touch for crunch and color. Ready in just 25 minutes, this versatile dish works beautifully as a side for Asian-inspired meals or as a light, vegetarian main. Easy to prepare yet bursting with umami flavors, this recipe is a must-try for fans of bold, fresh ingredients!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 whole Japanese eggplants
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon Honey
• 1 teaspoon Grated ginger
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 0.5 teaspoon Red chili flakes
• 2 stalks Scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Step 2

Wash the Japanese eggplants and pat them dry. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise.

Step 3

Brush the cut sides of the eggplants with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, ensuring they’re evenly coated.

Step 4

Place the eggplants cut-side down on the grill. Grill for about 4-5 minutes, until charred and softened, then flip and grill the skin side for another 3-4 minutes.

Step 5

While the eggplants are grilling, prepare the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red chili flakes until well combined.

Step 6

Remove the grilled eggplants from the heat and arrange them on a serving platter, cut-side up.

Step 7

Drizzle the Asian vinaigrette generously over the grilled eggplants.

Step 8

Garnish with thinly sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds for added texture and flavor.

Step 9

Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish or light main dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(982.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	696.2

Total Fat 45.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 22.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1750.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 72.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 26.5g	0%
Total Sugars 46.6g
Protein 14.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 180.1mg	0%
Iron 4.1mg	0%
Potassium 2164.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.0%

Protein: 7.7%

Carbs: 38.3%