The Best Easy Traditional Authentic Sticky eggplants with sesame seeds
– easy 20-minutes vegan dinner recipe
Mmm, Authentic sticky eggplants with sesame seeds. If you love sweet-meets-spicy sauces and sticky crunchy sesame seeds then these authentic sticky aubergines are just what you want. They’re a mouthwatering combination of sweet and spicy, sticky and crunchy. Think tender, almost melting eggplants wrapped in a sticky sweet-and-spicy sauce blanket topped with crunchy nutty sesame seeds. It doesn’t get much better than this easy vegan 20-minutes dinner recipe.
Jump to RecipeI call this The Best Easy Traditional Authentic Sticky Eggplants with Sesame Seeds recipe because it’s the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s full of tender melt-in-your-mouth textures, sweet sauce that has just the right amount of kick, and a deliciously crunchy and nutty topping that takes this simple vegan dinner to another level.
First of all, the juicy, tender, sweet-and-spicy sticky sauce is already a winner. Add the crunchy nutty sesame seeds and a bowl of basil rice and it doesn’t get much better or easier than this ready in a 20-minutes dinner. And if you really want to intensify the flavors, try marinating the eggplant all day in the teriyaki marinade. It makes this already great meal even better.
But secondly, that sticky sweet and spicy sticky sauce together with the rice. WHAT?! It’s intensely delicious, full of flavors and so good I wish I could eat it with everything at every meal. It’s a simple sauce, made with everyday ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. But the flavor combinations of sweet chili sauce, tender sticky eggplants, and fragrant basil come together in the best way in this easy dish.
Let’s look at what we’re working with today with this authentic sticky eggplants with sesame seeds recipe
Starting with the basics, we’re preparing fragrant fluffy basil-speckled rice. You can use whichever type of rice you prefer. Brown rice, Yasmin rice, red rice, or basmati rice all of them will all work in this recipe. I tend to go with basmati rice because I adore the nutty flavor, but you can just as easily go with the more nutritious brown rice option if you prefer.
Secondly, we have the eggplants (or aubergines). I always find the medium-sized to be the best. The eggplant meat is more tender than the larger eggplants tend to be…but again any type of eggplant will work in this dish, so no need to worry if you only have large eggplants on hand.
Of course, we need sesame seeds. The sesame seeds add all the nutty crunchy textures to this dish. You could say the humble sesame seeds are the star of the show or at least a very important supporting role to create the full flavor and texture experience.
You also need:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Dried basil
- Fresh basil
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Rice wine vinegar
- Spring onion
How to make Fragrant basil rice
In a small bowl, mix salt, 1 tbsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp sriracha sauce, and 1 tbsp soy sauce or Tamari. Add the seasoning to the rice water and cook the rice as instructed on the package.
Once the rice is cooked, add the chopped fresh basil and gently toss it together until it’s somewhat evenly combined.
That’s it. Your fragrant hot steaming basil rice is ready to serve.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of rice is best in this authentic sticky eggplants with sesame seeds recipe?
That really depends on what you want from your rice. If you are looking for a nutty flavor, then basmati rice is the one you want. For a bowl of lighter fragrant rice, you might prefer Yasmin rice. And if you’re looking to add more fiber and nutrients to your dish then brown rice might be the best option. For a sticky, easy to eat with chopsticks kind of rice, you will probably be happier choosing sushi rice. All rice has its own benefits and every type of rice can be used in this recipe. It’s all up to you which type of rice you want.
What’s the difference between soy sauce and tamari sauce?
Tamari sauce is the gluten-free version of soy sauce. Where regular soy sauce is made using gluten-rich flour, Tamari is made without any gluten. So if you’re looking for a gluten-free dinner you should always pick Tamari sauce.
Can I marinate the eggplant teriyaki overnight?
Yes. You can marinate the teriyaki anywhere from 5-minutes to 15 hours. The longer you marinate the eggplants the more intense the flavors become because the eggplants soak up all spices.
Are sticky eggplants meal prep friendly?
Absolutely. I like to make a double batch and freeze half of my sticky eggplants for later. That way I can simply grab it from the freezer and reheat it in the oven or microwave when I want a quick easy and healthy dinner.
Can you freeze eggplants / aubergines?
Yes. Eggplants or aubergines are completely freezer-friendly. It’s one of the reasons why this recipe is so meal prep friendly. You can freeze the eggplants before cooking or freeze the dish after it’s made.
The Best Easy Traditional Authentic Sticky eggplant with sesame seeds – easy 20-minutes vegan dinner recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplants / Aubergines Cut into cubes
- 1 cup Rice can be basmati or brown rice
- 1 tbsp Dried Basil
- ½ tsp Sriracha Sauce
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce or Tamari
- 1 bunch Fresh Basil
- 3 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Teriyaki Sauce
- ½ cup Soy Sauce or Tamari
- 2 tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Spring Onion Chopped
- 1-inch Ginger Grated or finely chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic Finely chopped or minced
Instructions
- Start by mixing all the ingredients for the teriyaki marinade together in a bowl. Put in the diced eggplants and toss to coat the eggplants in the sauce. (See notes)
Fragrant Basil Rice
- In a small bowl, mix salt, 1 tbsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp sriracha sauce, and 1 tbsp soy sauce or Tamari. Add the seasoning to the rice water and cook the rice as instructed on the package.
- Once the rice is cooked, add the chopped fresh basil and gently toss it together until it’s somewhat evenly combined. That’s it. Your fragrant basil rice is ready to serve.
Sticky Sesame Eggplants
- Next, heat a frying pan and pour in the marinated eggplants. Cook at medium-high heat while stirring occasionally.
- Let the eggplants cook for a minute before adding the sesame seeds to the pan. Mix everything and cook for a few more minutes until the sesame seeds begin to turn slightly crispy.Serve the sticky eggplants with a bowlful of fragrant basil rice and garnish with extra basil. Enjoy.
Notes
Are you looking for more easy vegan dinner recipes? You might like some of these:
