Source: YouTube: 「【なす味噌チーズ焼き】知らないと人生損するおいしいレシピ」 - image used with permission

[Recipe] This eggplant miso cheese casserole will make your taste buds sing

Nabe-san is a YouTuber who uses his experience as a chef to create simple and delicious recipes. On his YouTube channel なべのだいどころ "Nabe no Daikokoro," he uses seasonings and familiar ingredients typically found in a Japanese home to whip up "slightly stylish" dishes that can be made with little effort.

His eggplant miso cheese casserole looked so good, we had to introduce it to you. As you can see in the video below, it goes great with a nice cold beer!

Eggplant miso cheese casserole (serves 2-3)

Time required: 15 min.

Ingredients

2 medium eggplants
150 g (5.2 oz) minced meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc.)
50 g (1.8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1.5 tbsp miso
2 tbsp mirin (sweet cooking rice wine)
2 tbsp sake
1.5 to 2.5 tbsp sugar (adjusted to taste)
4 tbsp + salad oil (depending on the size of your eggplants)
1 tbsp sesame oil
Ichimi chili pepper (to taste)
Roasted white or golden sesame seeds (optional)
Parsley, fresh, finely chopped, or dried (optional)

How to make

1. Cut eggplant into desired size. (Thick slices are recommended, as they become quite small when cooked. If cooking the eggplant immediately, you don't need to soak in water. If cooking some time after cutting, soak in water to prevent discoloration.)
2. To make miso seasoning sauce, blend the miso, mirin, sake and sugar.
3. Add oil to frying pan. (Eggplant absorbs oil well, so add enough oil to coat them and cook them. If there is not enough oil, add more, or they will burn)
4. When the eggplant is well coated with oil and shiny, add the minced meat and stir-fry on medium heat.
5. When the meat is cooked, add the miso seasoning sauce and stir-fry further, adjusting taste with more sugar and miso if needed.
6. Add sesame oil, Ichimi chili pepper, and sesame seeds if you have them, then turn off the heat.
7. Pour frying pan contents into a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese and bake in a toaster or oven until cheese is melted.
8. Garnish with parsley, and serve!

Eggplants are in season now, so this is a great way of using them. If you want to reduce calories, the eggplant and meat mix stir-fried in the pan can also be enjoyed as is, without cheese.

Moreover, you can also replace the minced meat with a soy meat product of your choice if you're following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

If you're looking for a tasty and simple recipe this summer, why not give it a try?

By - grape Japan editorial staff.