Get through the heat with our popular summer dishes

As the summer heat begins to get serious, your appetite tends to decline, but it's time to make use of seasonal eggplant vegetable. The beautiful bright blue-purple eggplant has been loved since ancient times as a vegetable that is perfect for preventing summer fatigue. It is rich in water and has a cooling effect on the body, making it the perfect food for hot seasons.

Eggplant also goes great with oil, and by frying it or stir-frying it, it also helps to strengthen your stamina in the summer. There are a variety of cooking methods, and they are delicious whether grilled, boiled or pickled, making them a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

A variety of varieties and characteristics

When you look at it like this, there are so many different types of eggplants that you don't usually notice. You can see eggplants in stores all year round, but the original season is summer. Summer eggplants have thin skin and are soft and fresh in the fruit, making them the most delicious time.

How to choose and store delicious eggplants

There are a few points to consider when choosing delicious eggplants. First of all, the thorns are sharp and pointy, and the fresher the cut from the stem is, the fresher the more. The skin is dark purple, navy blue, and has no scratches or discoloration, and is considered to be a good product with firmness and gloss.

Eggplants are vegetables that are sensitive to cold and dryness, so when storing, it is recommended to put them in a plastic bag or wrap them in plastic wrap one at a time and store them in the vegetable compartment. If stored properly, you can enjoy it for several days while maintaining its deliciousness.

Easy in the microwave! Ponzu chicken and eggplant recipe

Here are some recipes for microwave cooking without using fire, using eggplant, which is popular in the summer. This dish is perfect for hot days, with chicken and eggplant refreshingly finished with ponzu sauce.

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• Chicken thigh... 2 pieces (approx. 400g)
• Eggplant... 3 pieces
• Ponzu... 4 tablespoons
• Sesame oil... 1 tablespoon
• Grated Garlic... 1 clove
• Grilled Ginger... 1 piece
• Green onions (sliced edges)... Approximate amount

How to make it

1. Preparing the ingredients Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, remove the eggplant and cut into pieces. After cutting the eggplant, let it go in water to remove any scum.
2. seasoning mixing bowl, add ponzu sauce, sesame oil, grated garlic and ginger, and mix well to make the seasoning solution.
3. microwave-cooked baking dish, pour seasoning liquid and mix it all over. Cover with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave in 600W for 8 minutes.
4. Finish off once, mix and cook again for 3 minutes. Finally, scatter the green onions and it's finished.

5 minutes in the microwave! Stewed eggplant recipe

This is a stewed eggplant with a gentle flavor that can be made in a microwave in a short time.

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• Eggplant... 3 pieces
• Dashi soup... 200ml
• Soy sauce... 2 tablespoons
• Mirin... 2 tablespoons
• Sugar... 2 tsp
• Ginger (sliced)... 1 piece

How to make it

1. Preparing eggplants Remove the stems and cut them into 4 equal parts vertically. Make a diagonal cut into the skin and soak it in water to remove any scum.
2. Preparation of the seasoning liquid Mix the dashi stock, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar to make the seasoning liquid.
3. Put the seasoning liquid and ginger in a microwave cooking
4. Finish by leaving it for about 10 minutes, mix in the flavor and then serve in a bowl. It can be delicious even when eaten chilled.

Sweet and sour pickled eggplant recipe

This is a recipe for sweet and sour pickled fried eggplants that can be eaten refreshingly in the summer. It's also perfect for pre-made.

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• Eggplant... 4 pieces
• Fried oil...appropriate amount
• Vinegar... 4 tablespoons
• Sugar... 3 tbsp
• Soy sauce... 2 tablespoons
• Red chili pepper (sliced)... 1 piece
• Grated radish, myoga, etc. (optional)... Appropriate amount

How to make it

1. Preparation of eggplants Remove any stems from eggplants, cut them in half lengthwise and then diagonally. After soaking it in water to remove any stains, wipe off the moisture thoroughly with kitchen paper.
2. Preparation of sweet and sourness: Mix vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and red chili pepper to make sweet and sourness. Mix well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Fry eggplants in 170°C oil and deep-fry eggplants in a colour. Cut the oil well and soak it in sweet and sour while it's hot.
4. crude heat is gone, chill in the fridge and marinate for more than 30 minutes. Serve in a bowl and serve with grated radish or myogata if you like.

Frozen fried eggplant

Frozen fried eggplants are convenient for time-saving cooking. Simply thaw it and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as pasta and Japanese cuisine.

They are cut and fried in oil, so they are convenient to use as they are for cooking. It can be used in a wide range of dishes, including stewed, stir-fried dishes, and curry.

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Recommended black vinegar

This is an organic black vinegar that has been aged for 3 years, perfect for pickling sweet and sour sauces and making dressings. It is characterized by its mellow sourness.

Kashida Fukuyama Black Vinegar 3 Year Aged Organic Black Vinegar 500ml

Organic JAS certified black vinegar aged for three years with natural spring water from Fukuyama Town, Kagoshima Prefecture and high-quality rice koji. It has a mellow sour taste, making it perfect for cooking and drinking.

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Sesame oil

This is a fragrant sesame oil that is essential for endless recipes. Just putting it on top will add a richness to your cooking.

Kadoya Genuine Sesame Oil PET 600g

Fragrant genuine sesame oil made with carefully selected sesame seeds. Add it to the finishing touches of infinite eggplants and stir-fry, and it will give you a rich flavor. The PET bottle is easy to use and convenient to store.

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summary

Eggplants are rich in water and have a cold effect on the body, making them the perfect vegetable for summer. Using a microwave, you can make delicious dishes without using a fire, making it comfortable to cook in the hot summer.

We have introduced a variety of cooking methods that allow you to fully enjoy the charm of eggplant, from recipes that are refreshingly finished with ponzu sauce, to infinite eggplants with the flavor of sesame oil, traditional stews and pickled sweet and sour sauce.

Native to India, eggplants have been loved in Japan since the Nara period, and have a wide variety of varieties developed in each region, allowing you to enjoy different textures and flavors.

Get through the hot season healthy by cooking using seasonal summer eggplants. You can bake, fried, or pickles. Try incorporating the versatile vegetable eggplants that can be enjoyed in a variety of cooking methods into your daily dining table.