HunanEasy 25 min serves 2 Vegan

Chopped Chili Steamed Eggplant (剁椒蒸茄子)

Name: Chopped Chili Steamed Eggplant (剁椒蒸茄子)
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Hunan
Ingredients: Chinese eggplant; chopped red chili (duojiao); garlic, minced; vegetable oil; light soy sauce; sesame oil; scallions, finely sliced

剁椒蒸茄子 · duò jiāo zhēng qié zi

家庭快手版 · Home version: Family version: whole eggplant steamed then split open, topped with chopped chili. Restaurant version might score the eggplant first to let heat penetrate faster.

Hunan's chopped chili (duojiao) is fermented red peppers — bright, pungent, and unapologetically hot. Steaming eggplant whole preserves its sweetness, then the chili topping turns every forkful into a firework of heat and umami. Eaten with rice, it's a one-dish meal.

Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen

Home-cooking research team

Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29

More egg recipes →Quick & Easy Spicy Healthy & Light

Ingredients

Chinese eggplant长条茄子🛒 local500 g
chopped red chili (duojiao)剁椒🏮 asian3 tbsp
garlic, minced蒜末🛒 local5 cloves
vegetable oil食用油🛒 local2 tbsp
light soy sauce生抽🏮 asian1 tbsp
sesame oil香油🏮 asian1 tsp
scallions, finely sliced小葱丝🛒 local2 stalks

🌶️ Adjust to your taste

Pick a level and we'll show exactly how much to change — no more "适量".

Spice level

Saltiness

Oiliness

Make it vegetarian

Instructions

1Leave eggplants whole. Make 3-4 shallow slashes along the length with a knife — this lets steam penetrate without breaking the skin.
2Place on a steamer plate. Cover and steam on high heat for 15 min.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 茄子表皮深紫发暗，整体塌软eggplant skin darkens and collapses; flesh softens throughout
You know it's right when: 手指按压留下深凹不回弹——完成finger press leaves a deep indent that doesn't spring back — done
3While eggplant steams, mix chopped chili, minced garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil in a small bowl.
4Remove steamed eggplant. Use a fork to pull apart lengthwise into strands — it should separate easily. Transfer to a serving plate.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 茄肉顺纹路撕成透亮丝条flesh separates into glistening, stringy strands
You know it's right when: 撕不动就再蒸2分钟——没蒸透的茄子发粉if it resists, steam 2 more min — undercooked eggplant is chalky
5Spoon the chili mixture evenly over the eggplant strands. Sprinkle scallion bits. The residual heat will infuse the flavors. Serve immediately with rice.

Tips

· Don't peel the eggplant — the skin holds the shape and adds texture.
· Duojiao varies in heat — start with less if you're sensitive to spice; you can always add more.
· This dish is great at room temperature too — a popular summer version in Hunan.

Sources & references

Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.

Read our editorial policy
Fuchsia Dunlop, Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking
USDA FoodData Central — ingredient nutrition and portion data
Traditional Chinese family-kitchen practice and regional taste records

Common questions

How do I keep eggplant from soaking up all the oil?

Two tricks: salt the cut eggplant and let it sit 10–15 minutes, then squeeze out the water — this collapses the spongy structure that drinks oil. Or microwave or steam it briefly first so it's half-cooked before it hits the pan. Either way it stays creamy inside with far less grease.

Source: HǎoWèi vegetable guide

It's too spicy. How do I tone it down?

Add a dairy element (a swirl of yogurt, milk, or a spoon of peanut butter) — dairy fat binds the capsaicin. Sugar or honey also helps balance heat. For next time: remove chili seeds (they hold most heat) or halve the dried chilies and add chili oil at the table instead.

Source: HǎoWèi flavor guide

Is there a vegan substitute for oyster sauce?

Yes — 'mushroom oyster sauce' (often labeled vegetarian/vegan) is sold in most Asian grocers and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets. It behaves 1:1 and adds the same glossy umami. Watch labels if you're also gluten-free; most brands are GF, some aren't.

Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine