Coal-roasted aubergine with red miso, feta and toasted cashews
This recipe uses a barbecue to scorch the aubergine, which is then marinated in a soy and ginger sauce and served with crumbled feta and toasted cashews.
Ingredients
For the marinade
- ½ tsp sesame seeds
- ½ tsp red chilli flakes
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- 10g/â…“oz minced garlic
- 10g/â…“oz grated fresh root ginger
- 25ml/1fl oz dark soy sauce
- 50ml/2fl oz light soy sauce
- 40g/1½ oz runny honey
For the coal-roasted aubergine with cashews and feta
- 1 aubergine
- 1 tbsp butter
- 30g/1oz cashew nuts
- 40²µ/1½´Ç³ú feta
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
- ½ spring onion, chopped
For the red miso butter
- 150²µ/5½´Ç³ú butter, softened
- 20g/1oz red miso pasteÌý
- 1 tbsp mirinÌý(or 15g/½oz caster sugar)
- 20²µ/¾´Ç³ú gochujang paste
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
Method
To make the marinade, place the sesame seeds, chilli flakes and sesame oil into a pestle and mortar and grind to a paste. Place in a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients, mix well and set aside. Preheat a barbecue to hot.
To make the aubergine, barbecue the aubergine directly over hot coals for 5 minutes. Rotate the aubergine by 180 degrees and cook for another 5 minutes. Alternativly you can cook on a gas hob for 7–9 minutes. Once the aubergine is soft to the touch all over, transfer to a board and leave to cool. Avoid fiddling with it or it will damage the skin and make the flesh go mushy.
Once the aubergine is cool, peel and discard the skin, then put the whole peeled aubergine into the marinade. Leave to soak for at least 4 hours, and ideally for 8 hours or overnight. (While it’s marinating, the aubergine will release juices into the marinade, which is important. If you prefer a less punchy marinade, add around 125ml/4fl oz water first.)
To make the red miso butter, combine the softened butter with the miso, mirin, gochujang and rice vinegar in a bowl.
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. To make the cashews, heat the butter in a frying pan over a low heat and toast the cashews until golden-brown. Tip out on to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain.
To serve, lift the aubergine from its marinade and transfer to a roasting tin. Spread the aubergine liberally with the miso butter. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes, or barbecue with the lid down, until hot all the way through. Transfer to a serving plate. Crumble over the feta and top with the toasted cashews, balsamic glaze and spring onion. Serve immediately.