Spicy Eggplant (Terung Balado)

⏱ 50 mins 🍽 4 serving(s) 🏷 Vegetable

This recipe for Terung Balado is a classic Indonesian vegetable dish. Japanese eggplants are baked until tender, then combined with a fragrant, spicy sauce made from garlic, shallots, tomatoes, and chili paste. The sauce is simmered and finished with lime juice and optional fried anchovies for a savoury, sweet, and spicy flavour combination. It's a vibrant and satisfying side dish that comes together in about 50 minutes.

Spicy Eggplant (Terung Balado)

Ingredients

  • 2 Japanese eggplants
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 4 shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili paste (sambal Oelek)
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar (more if you like it sweeter) or 1 teaspoon brown sugar (more if you like it sweeter)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • juice of a lime
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fried anchovy (optional)

Method

  1. Slice the eggplant into pieces 1” long. Place the eggplant on a baking sheet, then drizzle with olive oil and salt. Bake in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, until soft but not mushy.
  2. While the eggplant bakes, heat approximately 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Fry the garlic and shallots until aromatic and lightly browned. Mix in the chili paste and chopped tomatoes. Cook for a minute before pouring in the water. Let the sauce simmer until it reduces by half.
  3. Stir in the salt and sugar, followed by the lime juice. Finally, add the fried anchovies if using. Mix everything thoroughly. Pour the sauce over the baked eggplant to serve.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium593300 mg

Recipe details

CategoryVegetable
Authorellie3763