4.80 from 10 votes

Get ready to enjoy this delicious glazed Teriyaki Eggplant recipe that can be prepared in no time! Tender eggplant and sweet teriyaki sauce are the perfect match!

Looking for simple eggplant dishes? Try my Eggplant Tempura, Sauteed Japanese Eggplant, and Fried Eggplant!

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This teriyaki eggplant is a quick and easy side dish ready in just 10 minutes.
The sweet and savory teriyaki sauce enhances the taste of the eggplant.
Easily adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the teriyaki sauce to suit your taste (See the “Flavor Variations” section)

Japanese Eggplants

Japanese eggplants are slim and long. Their thin skin makes them perfect for quick cooking methods like stir-frying, deep-frying, and sautéing. This allows them to absorb flavors easily and stay tender.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Teriyaki Eggplant Recipe:

Japanese Eggplants: You can usually find Japanese eggplants at Japanese grocery stores or Asian grocery stores. However, if they are not available, Chinese eggplant makes the best substitute.
Potato starch: Coat eggplants with potato starch to achieve a crispy texture. If potato starch is unavailable, you can substitute corn starch or other types of starch.
Mirin, sugar, and soy sauce for teriyaki sauce: Mirin and sugar bring a sweet touch to the sauce, while soy sauce adds a savory umami flavor. To switch things up, you can use honey or maple syrup instead of white sugar, adding a unique depth of flavor to your teriyaki sauce.
Scallions: Or spring onion and green onions for garnishing.
Oil for cooking: Olive oil, vegetable oil, or any other oil of your choice.

How To Make Teriyaki Eggplant: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions! For the video and all the detailed ingredients and instructions, go to the printable recipe card below.

Step 1

Coat eggplant pieces with potato starch and add them to a frying pan with hot oil.

Step 2

Pan fry for 2 minutes on each side until crispy.

Step 3

Transfer the eggplant pieces to a plate, clean the pan, add mirin, sugar, and soy sauce, and bring it to a boil.

Step 4

Turn on the heat to melt the sugar, then toss with the eggplants.

Lastly, serve on a serving plate and top with scallions.

Recipe Tips

Cut the eggplant into evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
Eggplant tends to absorb oil easily. If you don’t want to consume too much oil, remove it from the eggplant with a kitchen towel before tossing it with teriyaki sauce. Also, opt for healthier oils such as olive oil or sesame oil.

What To Serve With

A fantastic way to enjoy this dish is to serve it on top of steamed Japanese rice in a rice bowl. To complete the meal, serve it with Tofu Miso Soup and Sunomono Salad (Japanese Cucumber Salad)!

Flavor Variations

Teriyaki Eggplant with Sesame Seeds: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the teriyaki-glazed eggplant for added texture and nutty flavor.
Spicy Teriyaki Eggplant: Add a touch of heat by incorporating chili peppers to the teriyaki sauce.
Savory Miso Glaze: To enhance the teriyaki sauce’s savory flavor, add a spoonful of white miso paste.
Tangy Teriyaki: Give your teriyaki eggplant a tangy twist by adding a splash of rice wine vinegar or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Ginger-infused Teriyaki: Add a hint of freshness and warmth by grating some fresh ginger into the teriyaki sauce for a delightful gingery kick.

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