Authentic Thai Recipe for Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil

Authentic Thai recipe for Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil

Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil

ผัดมะเขือยาว ( Pad Makua Yao )

Added on May 16, 2015

Currently rated:  
Rated 4.5 Stars from 2531 reader reviews

Yield: 2 - 4 servings
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cooking time: 8 Minutes
Ready in: Less than 15 minutes

This simple yet completely delicious stir-fried eggplant makes a nice side-dish that goes well with many other types of foods, or it can be a great vegetarian lunch when served with a little steamed rice. Our long green eggplant, known in Thailand as Makua Yao, is cooked and seasoned with just a little hot chili, garlic, and soy sauce. We toss in a healthy portion of our fragrant and flavorful Thai sweet basil, known here as Horapah, which contributes the subtle flavors of licorice, anise, and other familiar spices. If you are not a fan of spicy foods, leave the chili out for an equally delicious result. This recipe comes out great with any type of eggplant that you have locally available.

Ingredient List:
What's in our Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil.

Basic Directions:
How we make our Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil.

1) Cut the eggplant into large bite-sized pieces. Pluck the basil leaves. Crush the garlic and chili together.

2) Fry the garlic in oil until fragrant, then add the eggplant and 1 cup of water. Cook for about five minutes, or until the water is nearly gone and the eggplant is soft.

3) Season with sugar and soy sauce. Cook for one minute more, then turn off the heat and toss in the basil. Serve with steamed rice.

Jump to the detailed step-by-step method.
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How to Make Pad Makua Yao

Detailed Step-by-step Method:

Print these instructions >

Step 1

For this recipe we use a long green eggplant called Makua Yao in Thailand. It is similar in flavor to almost every other eggplant, so if you don't have these where you are, just use what you have and it will come out great. The basil we use is Thai sweet basil called Horapah. It has a strong flavor of licorice or anise. However, any type of basil should produce a delicious dish using this method.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 1

Step 2

Pluck the leaves and flower tops from the basil until they measure 1 cup of loosely packed leaves.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 2

Step 3

Split the long eggplant lengthwise down the middle, then cut the halves into 1 inch pieces.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 3

Step 4

Crush the garlic and chilies.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 4

Step 5

Add oil to a wok or frying pan. Stir in the garlic and chili and fry for about 30 seconds.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 5

Step 6

Add the eggplant and stir into the garlic, chili, and oil.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 6

Step 7

Add about 1 cup of water to the eggplant and stir it up well. Cook over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add small amounts of water only if needed to prevent sticking.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 7

Step 8

After about 5 minutes the eggplant should be soft, and the water reduced to just a little sauce. Add the soy sauce and sugar, and stir into the eggplant carefully. Cook for 1 minute more on high heat.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 8

Step 9

Turn off the heat and toss in the basil carefully so you don't mush up the eggplant.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 9

Step 10

Serve on a plate to be shared as part of a family style meal, or serve each portion over rice on individual plates. Garnish with fresh basil tops.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Vegetarian Stir-fried Eggplant with Sweet Basil - Step 10

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