Yakinasu / grilled eggplant

A traditional favorite. The soft, creamy texture of eggplant flesh is enveloped by a smoky aroma from slightly charring the skin, with grated ginger adding a bright note.

<Ingredients>

3 Japanese eggplant
1 knob ginger
Tiny handful bonito flakes (optional; not in photo)
Soy sauce (for serving; not in photo)


<Directions>
1.

Remove calyx (loose frills around eggplant head), and poke with a skewer overall.

2.

Grill over burner on medium high heat until some parts of skin become slightly charred and flesh becomes soft, about 7-8 minutes.

When you can press down eggplant effortlessly with chopsticks , it is ready.

3.
Meanwhile, grate ginger.

4.

Insert a skewer underneath skin, lift while tearing, and peel off skin. 

Cut off eggplant tops still covered by calyx, tear eggplant lengthwise into 2-4,  and serve with grated ginger and bonito flakes.

Pour over a small amount of soy sauce before eating.

<Notes>

• Poking eggplant with a skewer is to prevent it from bursting while grilling. If you do not have a skinny skewer handy, you can make one slightly large hole in the center of eggplant by inserting a chopstick all the way through.
• Some recipes tell you to put grilled eggplant in cold water to slightly chill it; this is not recommended, as it makes eggplant soggy. You can always wait a couple of  minutes to peel skin after grilling or dip your fingers in ice water from time to time while peeling skin.
• Tearing grilled eggplant can be done easily by first tearing from the head end using your fingernails.
• Use fresh, firm eggplant with few blemishes. Chinese eggplant is a good substitute.