The Perfect Dreamy Miso Aubergine Recipe
There are few dishes as crowd-pleasing and dreamy as the Nasu Dengaku – Miso Aubergine
Rich, creamy and savoury – it’s like having a cheeky dessert for a main and getting away with it. It is the most Instagrammed Miso Tasty dish using our miso paste and our most requested recipe, and it is easy to see why…..
The good news is that it is incredibly easy to achieve at home with just a few simple ingredients. This is one of those dishes where it is as much about the ingredients as it is about the technique – this is not a dish to freestyle! So follow my steps below to nail it every time.
The Perfect Dreamy Miso Aubergine
Ingredients
Instructions
- The key to aubergine unctuousness is the first step of shallow frying the aubergines first. Cut the aubergines in half lengthways and score the flesh in a criss-cross shape without cutting through to the skin.
- In a shallow frying pan, heat up 3-4 tablespoons of cooking oil on medium heat before adding the aubergines flesh side down for 3-4 minutes until charred and the flesh becomes soft. Flip them over and fry for a further 4 minutes, before flipping over a final time for 2 minutes. The aubergines should be about 80% cooked through.
- Lay the aubergines in a baking tray, lined with foil and rubbed with a little oil – Aubergines LOVE oil, so don’t deny it!
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together all the ingredients first the miso and the sake and mirin together until you have smooth paste, then the sugar and mix again.
- Using a spoon or pastry brush, spread a 2 mm layer of sweet miso paste onto the aubergines pieces, flesh side up.
- Pop under the grill or hot over of 220 degrees C, for a further 3-4 minutes or until the miso is bubbling and starting to char. It is tempting to add too much miso on your aubergines. Be sparing as it is all about the gentle contrast of the creamy aubergine flesh with the sweet slightly tangy and savoury miso topping – too much miso and you lose that lovely contrast on your palate. Don’t worry if you have some leftover miso paste though. it is lovely as a marinade for salmon and chicken too!
- Top with toasted sesame seeds just before serving!
Notes
I love serving this aubergine with rice and a little salad; keep it simple, the aubergine is the star here.
I look forward to seeing your miso aubergine creations on Instagram! Remember to tag us!
If you are in a rush, you can use a blow torch as an alternative from the grill or oven part, it will only take you second to get the miso sauce to caramelizing.
Featured photo by Paul Winch-Furness