Sichuan-Style Spicy Eggplant Stir Fry with Garlic and Chili
Tender eggplant pieces stir-fried in a bold, spicy sauce with fragrant garlic and chili, delivering a punchy, satisfying vegetarian dish. This Chinese-inspired Super Bowl recipe (vegan), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs Chinese eggplants, vegetable oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 3, 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 (about 1 lb), cut into 1-inch chunks Chinese eggplants
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 2, thinly sliced fresh red chili peppers
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp black vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp, mixed with 2 tbsp water cornstarch
- 2, thinly sliced green onions
- 1 tsp sesame oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 2 medium Chinese eggplants cut into 1-inch chunks and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes until they begin to soften and brown on edges.
- Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 thinly sliced fresh red chili peppers, and 1 tbsp minced ginger to the wok. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp black vinegar, and 1 tsp sugar. Toss to coat the eggplant evenly and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Pour in the 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the eggplant, about 1 minute.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil on top. Garnish with 2 thinly sliced green onions before serving hot.







