Aubergine Katsu
Who needs chicken katsu recipe, when you can make a vegan katsu version using Aubergine? DELISH! If you've ever been to a certain delicious high street Asian fusion restaurant (let's just call it Magawama) then you'll have probably experienced one of their excellent katsu curry dishes. We're mega fans, so we thought we'd cook up a vegan version for the plant-based masses to enjoy. The katsu sauce recipe is the perfect balance of beautifully light yet comfortingly warm with the panko breadcrumbs giving the aubergine a gooey-on-the-inside kind of crispiness. A really wonderful family vegan meal idea for dinner.
Serves
Ingredients
For the katsu sauce
<item-todo-done>2 tbsp toasted sesame oil<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>5cm ginger fresh<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tbsp olive oil<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 ½ tsp soy sauce<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tbsp curry powder<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>350ml vegetable stock<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 tsp garam masala<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tsp sugar<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 tbsp water<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 onion<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 carrot<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 garlic cloves<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>250 plant-based milk<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> vegetable oil for shallow frying<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>4 spring onions<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>1 tbsp cornflour<item-todo-done>
For the aubergine
<item-todo-done>175g plain flour<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>½ tbsp salt<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>150g panko breadcrumbs<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>500g cooked basmati rice<item-todo-done><item-todo-done>2 aubergines - about 300g each<item-todo-done><item-todo-done> sesame seeds<item-todo-done>
Before you start
Fine grater or Microplane | 2 large frying pans | Powerful Blender | Large plate lined with kitchen paper
For the sauce
- Peel and dice the onion. Peel and grate the carrot. Peel and finely grate the ginger and garlic
- Put one pan over a medium heat and warm the sesame oil
- Add the onions and fry for 3–4 minutes, stirring
- Add the carrot and olive oil and stir for 5–6 minutes
- Add the garlic and ginger and stir for 2 minutes
- Add the soy sauce and curry powder and stir for 2 minutes, then transfer to the liquidiser along with the vegetable stock. Blend. Pour back into the pan and return to a medium heat
Finishing the sauce
- Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice of half into the pan, catching any pips with your other hand
- Sprinkle over the garam masala and sugar and stir. Reduce the heat to low. Taste and add more salt and lemon if required
- Put the cornflour and water into a small dish and mix together with a fork. Pour into the pan and stir to thicken
Make the batter
- Put the flour, salt and milk into a mixing bowl and whisk to a smooth batter
- Pour the breadcrumbs into a separate bowl
For the aubergine
- Trim the aubergines and cut into 1cm slices. Tip into the batter and toss to cover. Pick out one slice and roll it around in the breadcrumbs, covering it completely. Repeat to coat all the slices
- Fry the aubergine. Pour the vegetable oil into the second pan until it’s 2cm deep. Put the pan over a medium heat and heat until a wooden spoon dipped into the oil starts to bubble around the edges. Carefully add the aubergine slices and fry for 3–4 minutes on each side, until crispy and deep golden
- Transfer to the kitchen paper for a minute to soak up any excess oil
Time to serve
- Meanwhile, heat the rice,** **if necessary, or cook following the packet instructions, then divide between plates
- Arrange the crispy aubergine on top and drizzle over the katsu sauce
- Finely slice the spring onions and sprinkle over with the sesame seeds before serving