Eggplant Adobo Recipe (2024)

By Kay Chun

Published Jan. 19, 2024

Eggplant Adobo Recipe (1)

Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(1,260)
Notes
Read community notes

This superpunchy, one-skillet vegetarian meal is inspired by chicken adobo, a beloved Filipino dish. Here, eggplant cooks in rich, tangy adobo sauce — a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black pepper and bay leaf — absorbing the savory flavors as it simmers. Coconut milk is added in some versions of adobo, creating a rich, silky texture to balance out the sauce’s tart notes. This recipe includes a shower of fragrant basil, which brings a fresh hit that lifts the dish. (Thinly sliced scallions would also be great.) Serve the eggplant over rice to catch all of its flavorful drippings.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 5tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or safflower
  • pounds eggplant (preferably small Italian eggplant), cut into 1-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • ¼cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ¼cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • 1tablespoon turbinado or light brown sugar
  • ½white onion, thinly sliced
  • 3garlic cloves, minced
  • 1fresh or dried bay leaf
  • ¼cup chopped basil, plus additional small leaves for garnish
  • Steamed jasmine rice, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

315 calories; 21 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 675 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Eggplant Adobo Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add half of the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with 2 tablespoons of the oil and the remaining eggplant.

  2. Step

    2

    Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine soy sauce, coconut milk, vinegar, sugar, ½ teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons of water; mix well.

  3. Step

    3

    Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, 1 minute.

  4. Step

    4

    Add the browned eggplant, soy sauce mixture and bay leaf and toss to evenly coat. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring every 5 minutes, until the eggplant is tender but still has structure, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and nicely coats the eggplant, about 2 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the chopped basil.

  5. Step

    5

    Divide the eggplant mixture over rice among bowls. Garnish with basil leaves and serve warm.

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,260

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Archdruid 1

Eggplant with little oil. Take eggplant slices, put on a paper towel lined plate. 4 to 5 minutes in your microwave (depends on the power of your microwave). Almost all water is gone and sponge barriers are collapsed. Now start your recipe.

Jens

I suggest you use the rest of the can of coconut milk to make coconut rice! It would be a perfect pairing with this dish. Just sub the coconut milk for water 1:1

Alex

I'd toss the eggplant cubes in oil and salt and put in a hot 450f oven for 15 mins (on a tray with baking paper - no cleanup). Brown onions etc in parallel on the stove. It's my go to method for eggplant these days - less oil; can go hotter if you want to get a bit of charring going.

MOL

I grew up eating Eggplant Adobo (Adobong Talong). At our home, the eggplant was pan fried, roasted or grilled in coals. Yea to salting beforehand. The sauce ingredients are mided with some cornstarch. Then, oil is heated on a pan. Chopped garlic is sautéed until fragrant. Then the sauce mixture is added. Once the sauce has blended and starts to thicken, the eggplant is added. Served with minced raw garlic sprinkled on top. We add ground pork sometimes too. Or tofu.

Chef Kris

It has been noticed over the years that to properly get the consistent firm eggplant that will not be mushy when cooked, you must first salt it. I lay it out on a paper towel lined sheet pan or cookie pan. Then salt it and let sit in a cooler for 4 hours.

Harold

You have to be joking! two tablespoons of oil for 8 cups of eggplant! My suggestion is to use as much as it takes and that will be a lot more than 2 tablespoons. Eggplant absorbs oil like kitchen paper. Perhaps you might get by with two tablespoons if you stir the eggplant in the two tablespoons and then put the eggplant into a very hot oven for 20 minutes or so.

andy

My eggplant did not brown up in 5 mins. Took more like 15 in two separate batches. Just fyi

Sharon

As per another suggestion: salt your eggplant and let it drain; especially if you are using the typical globe eggplant you find in the supermarkets. I find if I use the really slim eggplants (traditionally used in Thai cooking); you don't need to use a ton of oil and they brown quickly. Added bonus, they don't need to be salted either! I can't find them at my supermarket consistently (unless I go to a Chinese market...and then it is iffy), so I grow these in the summer months.

AnnieS

Toss the eggplant cubes in olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano then roast rather than frying. Healthier, less messy, and flavorful.

Lisa vS

For those worried about extra coconut milk, just freeze the rest in a canning jar. Nice to have on hand. Though I also second the coconut rice suggestion.

Deirdre

What is a good substitute for coconut milk?

Ellen Terry

I sometimes use 3/4 cup whole milk yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup milk to replace coconut milk in curries.

Sher

I prefer baking Eggplant, seasonings & olive oil until just soft & then slice/dice & add to other ingredients. Less oil, less work & better flavor.

BrurtallyFrank

Recipe looks good but I'm really not going to open up a can of coconut milk just to use 1/4 cup.

Naima

Freeze the rest.

Niki

I own a small catering company delivering meals to folk. I offer a daily vegetarian option and with aubergines being in season here in South Africa, I made this dish. Well, it was such a hit! So much so that it has now become a regular menu item with non-vegetarians ordering as well.

Greg G

This recipe is a mess. First off the photo shows a reddish sauce, but there are no ingredients that will make it that color. The description says it is zesty but it came out quite dull, and only chili garlic sauce and more soy sauce made it palatable. The reader suggested use of making coconut rice also backfired. The coconut fat all globbed up top. You are better off ordering pizza!

Barbara

Great weeknight recipe! I tossed the eggplant cubes in oil, salt and pepper as recommended, then roasted it in a 450 degree oven for about 15 - 20 minutes. Perfect. I also added some ground pork that I dressed with some Xiaoxing wine, soy and a little sugar - stir fried it up after the onions and garlic. My husband has to be careful with carbs, so I served it over some soba (more fiber and protein than rice) and it was excellent. This goes into the rotation, for sure.

Steve G

I was a little nervous trying this out as I am not a diehard fan of eggplant (although I adore eggplant parmesan and will eat heaps of it). This dish impressed me, however. The eggplant came out both firm and tender and the sauce permeated the dish without being too thick or thin. I would make two changes: I added a little extra spice to make the flavors more noticeable, and I wish I had removed the skin from the eggplant as well as it is hard to chew through.

CC is cooking

Made with roasted aubergine. Too much soy sauce. Recommend less soy and more coconut.

Nick

Tasty, but I swear this yields, like, 1.5 servings.

steve

I replaced egg plant with squash and added veggie meat balls. Family liked it

lauryn

Very tasty. I added asparagus because I had it on hand. I also substituted Chinese vinegar for white vinegar and it added some depth to the flavor.

Diane H

Maybe it would taste better with thin chinese eggplant. Made it as directed with Italian eggplant but did not like it. I've made Adobo with chicken and salmon in the past---both were so much better.

thatsnotmyname

This was so good even my husband liked it and he usually is so sad on eggplant nights.

Gave

Really excellent, flavorful and a little bit tart. I salted the eggplant, let it sit for 10 minutes and blotted up the condensation before I cooked. The eggplant texture was solid but silky and lovely.

wendyonmaui

I made the coconut rice with the extra coconut milk. Next time I’ll also add a smashed lemongrass stick . I added some leftover roasted carrots and about a half cup of the coconut milk instead of 1/4 cup. My usual adobo is quite vinegary and I don’t use coconut milk, but this sauce still was delicious and was great on the rice over some baby salad greens. I didn’t have basil but added green onions to serve it. I will up the vinegar next time but none the less, this will be in my new shortlist.

Afi

I microwaved my eggplant which basically cooked it. Then I followed the recipe. Next time I'll try oven roasting it. Either way the dish tastes great.

smathasi

We really loved this recipe! We made a crispy tofu to go with it, which made it a little more filling without compromising the flavor and focus on the eggplant.

Erin

This is another one of those "secretly" vegan recipes that just really do it for me - made this dish for the first time tonight and I feel confident that it is going into my weeknight rotation from now on. 10/10 highly recommend!

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Eggplant Adobo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does eggplant need to be soaked before frying? ›

Typically eggplant behaves like a sponge, soaking up heroic amounts of oil when fried. The Terzo Piano chefs use this trick to prevent heavy aubergines: Before frying, soak the strips of eggplant in an ice water bath. They will absorb water and drop in temperature.

What is the secret to cooking eggplant? ›

Eggplants are known to absorb a lot of fat while cooking. A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour. This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

What vegetables can you add to adobo? ›

I've since learned that the technique of searing and then softening in sauce extends to other vegetables: Mushrooms, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, squash, and even wilted greens like water spinach all welcome the process of adobo. Writer Ria Elciario makes green bean adobo, topped with crumbled tofu.

Should you peel eggplant before cooking? ›

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to remove the skin.

What happens if you don't salt eggplant before cooking? ›

Though salting works when you want the eggplant to be creamy and tender — such as with parmigiana — in those cases where you want the eggplant to retain its shape and have a slightly firmer texture — such as ratatouille — you can skip it.

How do you prepare eggplant before frying? ›

Start by salting the eggplant slices and letting them rest before cooking. The salt draws some of the interior moisture to the surface of the eggplant. A thorough pat with paper towels before breading the eggplant is essential to getting rid of that moisture and preventing soggy slices.

Why isn't my eggplant crispy? ›

The best eggplant is caramelized and crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. This is achieved by giving the cubes or slices enough room to brown while they cook. If you overcrowd them in the pan or baking sheet, they'll steam instead of brown and you'll never get that caramelization.

What makes eggplant taste good? ›

The oil still left in the eggplant tissues contributes to the soft, buttery texture that's so appealing. Oil also carries the essence of added herbs and spices, so that eggplant dishes can become rich with the aromas and heady flavors of onions, peppers, anchovies, parsley, garlic, and lemon juice.

What is the most important ingredient in adobo? ›

The most basic ingredient of adobo is vinegar, which is usually coconut vinegar, rice vinegar, or cane vinegar (although sometimes white wine or cider vinegar can also be used). Almost every ingredient can be changed according to personal preference.

What makes adobo taste good? ›

In Mexico, adobo sauce starts with dried chiles like guajillo and ancho peppers. The chiles are rehydrated and combined into a thick paste with an acid like vinegar or citrus juice and flavorful additions like onions, garlic, cumin, and oregano.

What makes adobo delicious? ›

There are many regional varieties of adobo, but most recipes include vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. The meat is marinated and then stewed in this mixture, which yields a very flavorful, tangy, and tender meat.

How long do you soak eggplant before cooking? ›

Submerge the pieces in the salted water. Use an upside-down plate or pot lid to weigh down the eggplant so it is fully submerged in the water. Let the eggplant sit in the brine for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Drain the eggplant and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels.

Should you soak eggplant in milk or salt water? ›

Soak eggplant slices or cubes in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.

Do you need to soak eggplant in salt water? ›

Many recipes call for eggplants to be salted and rinsed to draw out any bitter juices, but this shouldn't be necessary if they're fresh. If the seeds are too defined or feel hard, the eggplant may be old and should be salted.

When should I soak my eggplant? ›

Brining adds flavor and texture to eggplants. "Mix spices and salt with water, then soak sliced eggplant in the brine for 30 minutes before cooking.

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