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    Quick and Easy Sautéed Eggplant Recipe | Ready In 15 Minutes

    Sep 1, 2022 The Diet Chef

    Jump to Recipe

    This sauteed eggplant recipe is seriously one of the best eggplant recipes you'll ever make. Tender, chewy chunks of chopped eggplant are tossed in a sweet and savory Asian-inspired sauce that explodes with flavor in every bite. Best of all, this simple and easy side dish recipe is ready in under 15 minutes!

    Part of a white bowl that is filled with eggplant squares.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Sauteed Eggplant
      • Ingredients
      • How to Cook Eggplant
        • Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
        • Step 2: Cook the Eggplant
        • Step 3: Make the Eggplant Sauce
      • How To Store Cooked Eggplant
        • How To Reheat Eggplant
      • FAQs About Eggplant Recipes
        • Do you peel eggplant before sauteing?
        • Should I salt eggplant before sauteing?
        • What is the best way to prepare eggplants?
        • Is sauteed eggplant good for you?
      • Wrapping it All Up
    • More Vegetable Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Sautéed Eggplant Recipe | Ready In 15 Minutes
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Sauteed Eggplant

    When it comes to easy eggplant recipes, you can't go wrong with this simple pan fried eggplant recipe.

    This recipe is as easy and flavorful as any eggplant dish can get. I mean, you only need a handful of pantry staples and 15 minutes to make it.

    It doesn't get much quicker or easier than that, does it?

    Also, while most sauteed eggplant recipes tend to come out greasy and overcooked, this one comes out light, buttery soft, and packed with flavor!

    Seriously, this stuff makes a standout side dish at any dinner and can even work as a main meal. And, honestly, these eggplant chunks are so addictive, that you won't even want to eat anything else!

    With that said, if you want to serve one of the best eggplant recipes ever created with something else, I have to say it goes really well mixed in with this cauliflower rice, on the side of this air fryer chicken breast, or even this pan seared salmon.

    Part of a white plate with sauteed eggplant squares on it.

    Ingredients

    So, you only need one eggplant and 5 simple ingredients to make this absolutely delish sauteed eggplant. Even better yet, all of the ingredients used to make it are pantry - and kitchen - staples. 

    Anyway, here's what you need to make this recipe for sauteed eggplant:

    • 1 Eggplant
    • 1 tbsp. Sesame Oil
    • 3 tbsp. Soy Sauce
    • 2 tbsp. Honey
    • 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
    • 2 tbsp. Green Onions, chopped

    Honestly, that's got to be one of the shortest ingredients lists you'll find as far as eggplant recipes go.

    But, don't let the short ingredient list fool you. I have a feeling you're going to be blown away by how flavorful these eggplant chunks turn out. Each bite is seriously better than the last with this dish.

    By the way, be sure to use regular sesame oil and not toasted sesame oil when making your eggplant. Toasted sesame oil has a much lower smoking point and can burn and turn bitter as you're cooking.

    Oh, and if you want to add a kick of heat to this sliced eggplant, you can add a dash of red pepper flakes. Sometimes we like to do that at our house, and it always adds a nice extra element of flavor to the dish.

    A bowl of honey, a bowl of diced green onions, a bowl of sesame oil, and part of an eggplant on a cutting board.

    How to Cook Eggplant

    Making eggplant recipes is generally pretty easy, and this sauteed eggplant recipe is no exception.

    With only 20 minutes (at the most), you’ll have perfectly cooked eggplant with a delicious honey soy glaze sauce.

    So, let's not waste any more time. Let's make some eggplant!

    An eggplant cut in half and sliced lengthwise on a wooden cutting board.

    Step 1: Prep the Ingredients

    First, grab your fresh eggplant and cut it into cubes.

    You can make them any size you like, but I recommend cutting your eggplant larger than an inch since they'll greatly reduce in size as you cook. But, if really you want, you can make thin slices as well.

    Anyway, at this stage, you'll want to pat dry your eggplant cubes with a paper towel. Doing this will help you achieve a golden brown crust on the outside when pan frying.

    Then, after you've got the eggplant dried, you'll want to whisk your soy sauce, honey, and lemon juice together in a small bowl, and set it aside for later.

    A bunch of diced eggplant squares on a wooden cutting board.

    Step 2: Cook the Eggplant

    Next, preheat a large skillet - or wok - over medium heat and add the sesame oil to it.

    Once the oil is hot enough, add eggplant slices to it and cook, frequently tossing, until your eggplant is golden brown on every side.

    Oh, and if you're adding red pepper flakes for some heat, you can start stirring them in when your eggplant is almost done browning.

    A bunch of eggplant squares in a skillet.

    Step 3: Make the Eggplant Sauce

    Now, take your prepared sauce and give it a quick stir to make sure everything is well-combined.

    Finally, add the sauce into the pan and toss to completely coat the eggplant in it. Then, let it simmer for a couple of minutes to let the sauce soak into the eggplant and thicken up a bit.

    Now, once the sauce has reduced and the eggplant is evenly coated in the glaze, you'll want to take it off the heat and transfer it to a serving dish.

    Garnish your sauteed eggplant with sliced green onions, and enjoy!

    Eggplant slices roasting in a skillet with oil.

    How To Store Cooked Eggplant

    Ok, so this recipe will end up making about 2 servings as a side, depending on the size of your eggplant.

    I used one large eggplant for this recipe, but you may need to adjust the amount if you're using the smaller Italian eggplant or narrow eggplant varieties like Chinese eggplant and Japanese eggplant.

    And, remember, when it comes to measuring for eggplant recipes, you want to use more eggplant than you think you'll need since eggplant tends to shrink as it cooks.

    Also, as far as storing your leftover eggplant goes, you'll want to wait for the eggplant to cool down and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

    Sauteed eggplant slices on a white plate.

    How To Reheat Eggplant

    Ok, so this eggplant is pretty good cold, but you can definitely reheat it if you want.

    To reheat your sauteed eggplant, all you have to do is put it back in a pan on the stovetop and saute for a few minutes until warm.

    Or, if you want a roasted eggplant effect, you can put it in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 5-10 minutes, or until the roasted eggplant is warm again.

    Sauteed eggplant slices in a white bowl.

    FAQs About Eggplant Recipes

    Do you peel eggplant before sauteing?

    Though eggplant skin is edible and nutritious, whether or not you peel the eggplant skin depends on the kind of eggplant you're using. Small eggplants don't have to be peeled at all, but large eggplant, on the other hand, tends to have tougher skin and should be peeled before sauteeing.

    However, if you're making eggplant recipes that use longer cooking methods like baked eggplant, roasted eggplant, and grilled eggplant, you could get away with not peeling the eggplant skin even on a large eggplant.

    Should I salt eggplant before sauteing?

    Salting the eggplant isn't a necessary step in all eggplant recipes. That said, it can increase the natural flavor of the eggplant and give it a "meatier" texture that some people prefer.

    Old or overripe eggplants also tend to have a bitterness to them that can be slightly reduced by salting the eggplant beforehand. To salt your eggplant slices or cubes, place them on a colander positioned over a bowl (to soak up the excess liquid from the eggplant) and sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the eggplant. Let the eggplant sit with the salt for 30 minutes to 60 minutes, then rinse and pat dry.

    What is the best way to prepare eggplants?

    There are so many delicious eggplant recipes since eggplants are so versatile.

    With that said, there are a lot of fantastic eggplant recipes you can make. Sauteeing your eggplant, like in this recipe, is one delicious way to prepare eggplant.  But other common methods are making baked eggplant, eggplant parm, roasted eggplant, eggplant salad,  stuffed eggplant, and grilled eggplant. 

    Is sauteed eggplant good for you?

    Sauteed eggplant is one of the healthier eggplant recipes you can make because it doesn't use as much oil as breaded and deep-fried eggplant recipes do, like eggplant parm.

    That said, you'll want to stick to sauteed eggplant recipes that don't use a lot of oil. Also, make sure your oil is hot enough before adding in the eggplant. Eggplant tends to soak up a lot of oil, especially when you're starting with cold oil, so you'll want to ensure your oil is already at frying temperature.

    Eggplant slices in a white bowl on a white counter.

    Wrapping it All Up

    Well, that's how to make sauteed eggplant in just a few simple steps with a few simple ingredients!

    As far as eggplant recipes go, this is by far my favorite one. This recipe is quick, easy, and incredibly delicious. Plus, it's suitable for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters alike.

    Anyway, I hope you like this eggplant recipe as much as I do.

    As always, if you make it, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below.

    Oh, and for even more recipes, check out my Youtube channel and Instagram page!

    More Vegetable Recipes

    If you like roasted veggies and want to give some more vegetable recipes a try, I have a ton on the blog that I think you'll enjoy!

    Give one of these a try next:

    • Broccoli casserole
    • Zucchini fries
    • Air fryer brussel sprouts
    • Breakfast casserole
    • Bacon wrapped asparagus
    • Roasted broccolini
    • Roasted okra
    Print

    Quick and Easy Sautéed Eggplant Recipe | Ready In 15 Minutes

    Eggplant slices in a white bowl on a white counter.
    Print Recipe

    5 from 1 reviews

    This sauteed eggplant recipe is seriously one of the best eggplant recipes you'll ever make. Tender, chewy chunks of chopped eggplant are tossed in a sweet and savory Asian-inspired sauce that explodes with flavor in every bite. Best of all, this simple and easy side dish recipe is ready in under 15 minutes!

    • Author: The Diet Chef
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Vegetable

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 Eggplant

    1 tbsp. Sesame Oil

    3 tbsp. Soy Sauce

    2 tbsp. Honey

    1 tbsp. Lemon Juice

    2 tbsp. Green Onions, chopped

    Instructions

    1. Cut the eggplant into cubes.
    2. Preheat a pan or a wok over medium heat and add the sesame oil.
    3. Mix the soy sauce, honey, and lemon juice.
    4. Add the eggplant to the skillet and cook until it’s golden brown on every side.
    5. Add the sauce, let it soak, and combine for a couple of minutes.
    6. Serve with green onions.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 139
    • Fat: 7
    • Carbohydrates: 16
    • Protein: 5

    Keywords: Sauteed eggplant recipes, eggplant, eggplant recipe, how to make eggplant, best way to cook eggplant, How to cook eggplant, Sauteed eggplant, Eggplant recipes, Fried eggplant, the best eggplant, sauteed eggplant cubes, sauteed eggplant recipes, eggplant recipes healthy, eggplant recipes easy, eggplant recipes vegetarian, best eggplant recipe ever,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thejoeduff — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    About The Diet Chef

    Comments

    1. Sara says

      September 09, 2022 at 3:56 pm

      This was amazing 🤩 thank you for sharing and please keep them coming ❣️

      Reply
    2. Kelly T. says

      September 21, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      By far the best eggplant that I have tried. Really great consistency and top notch flavor.






      Reply
    3. Linda says

      October 26, 2022 at 9:03 pm

      What are the black cylindrical flake?f I don't see them identified in the recipe nor narration

      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        October 29, 2022 at 7:07 pm

        They're black sesame seeds.

        Reply

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Hey there! I'm Joe Duff - The Diet Chef, and I've been creating low carb keto recipes for over 15 years. Initally, I started making these recipes to help myself lose weight - I lost over 75 pounds doing so - but now I make recipes for the entire low carb keto community!
    About The Diet Chef →

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