# How to Make Roasted Eggplant

Simple, convenient, and incredibly fragrant.

Estimated Cooking Difficulty: ★★★

## Essential Ingredients and Tools

- Eggplant
- Cooking oil
- Soy sauce (light soy sauce)
- Minced garlic
- Chili peppers
- Cumin
- Table salt

## Measurements

For two servings:

- 1 Eggplant (approx. 200g)
- 20-30 ml Cooking oil
- 4-6 g Soy sauce
- 1 Thai chili pepper (approx. 20g)
- 3-4 cloves Minced garlic
- 1-3 g Cumin
- 0.5-2 g Table salt

## Instructions

- In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, cumin, table salt, minced garlic, and chopped Thai chili peppers. Mix evenly and set aside.
- Wash the eggplant and pat it dry with a paper towel to remove surface moisture.
- Use a fork to poke 4-8 holes on one side of the eggplant.
- Apply 15-25 ml of cooking oil to coat the entire surface of the eggplant.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (with fan on high) for 2 minutes.
- Place the eggplant in the middle or upper rack of the oven and roast for 12-15 minutes. It is ready when the surface is wrinkled and can be pressed down 0.3-0.5 cm deep.
- Remove the eggplant and use a knife to make a vertical slit down the center, leaving 1-1.5 cm at the top and bottom uncut.
- Insert a small knife or fork into the slit and cut through the interior vertically.
- Gently open the slit and pour the prepared sauce over the eggplant.
- Return the eggplant to the oven and roast at 200°C for 4-7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and turn off the power.

## Additional Notes

The final result is similar to roasted eggplant from a street BBQ stall; it smells amazing!

**Precautions:**
If the eggplant surface is wet, not fully coated with oil, or not pierced with a fork, it may **burst during roasting**.

**Suggested Improvements:**
When making the initial cut, you can slice the eggplant in half lengthwise first, then score the interior before applying the sauce.

![Example of the finished dish](./烤茄子.jpg)

If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improving the process after following this guide, please submit an Issue or Pull request.