Miso-Glazed Infinite Craft Eggplant Donburi

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-12 · Updated 2026-06-12

Silky eggplant glazed with umami-packed miso sauce served over steamed rice for a comforting, flavorful bowl inspired by endless creativity. This japanese-inspired rice & grains (vegetarian) ready in about 30 minutes pairs white miso paste, mirin, soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds Japanese eggplant
• 3 tbsp white miso paste
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups steamed short-grain rice
• 2 sliced thin scallions
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp white miso paste, 2 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp brown sugar until smooth and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 medium Japanese eggplants sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until golden and tender.
3. Step 3: Lower heat to medium and brush the miso glaze generously over each eggplant slice. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until glaze thickens and becomes sticky.
4. Step 4: Drizzle 1 tbsp sesame oil over the glazed eggplants and remove from heat.
5. Step 5: To serve, divide 4 cups steamed short-grain rice into bowls, top with glazed eggplant, garnish with 2 sliced thin scallions and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds.