Miso Glazed Eggplant (Printable)

Silky roasted eggplant with sweet-savory miso glaze, broiled until caramelized and golden.

# What You Need:

→ Eggplant

01 - 2 medium Japanese eggplants

→ Miso Glaze

02 - 3 tablespoons white miso paste
03 - 1 tablespoon mirin
04 - 1 tablespoon sake
05 - 1 tablespoon sugar
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil

→ Garnish

07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice eggplants in half lengthwise and score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern without piercing the skin.
02 - Brush cut sides with sesame oil and place cut-side up on the baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the flesh is tender and golden.
03 - Whisk together the miso paste, mirin, sake, sugar, and remaining sesame oil in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - Remove eggplants from the oven and spread a generous layer of miso glaze evenly over the cut sides. Set oven to broil and broil eggplants for 2 to 3 minutes until the glaze bubbles and caramelizes, watching closely to prevent burning.
05 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and green onions. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between tender eggplant and caramelized, sticky glaze is genuinely addictive—it feels like restaurant food but takes barely 40 minutes.
  • One miso glaze works across any number of eggplants, so it scales beautifully from a quick solo dinner to feeding a crowd.
  • You probably have most of these ingredients hiding in your pantry already, especially if you've ever cooked anything Asian-inspired.
02 -
  • Do not walk away during broiling—the difference between caramelized perfection and burnt charcoal is about 30 seconds, and it happens faster than you'd think.
  • Scoring the flesh isn't just for show; it genuinely changes the texture by letting heat and glaze penetrate, turning mushy into silky in the best way.
03 -
  • Make the glaze ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week—it actually tastes better as flavors meld, so this is a dish that rewards a little planning.
  • If your broiler runs hot, position the rack lower and check at the 90-second mark so you don't lose your eggplants to a flash of flame.
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