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Rock your tastebuds with this creamy, spicy, and so tasty Ginataang Talong! It's easy to make in one pan and cooks in an hour for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve with steamed rice for a hearty meal the whole family will love.
I know I tend to exaggerate and get overly excited about every recipe I post here at Kawaling Pinoy. But let me tell you, I am excited now for a good reason. Just take a look at those tasty pork morsels and smoky eggplant pieces swimming in all that luscious sauce; I am sure you understand.
If there is but one recipe here you must try, let it be this ginataang talong. Trust me; it's pure indulgence!
Not only is this eggplant stew so delicious, but it's also super easy to make. It cooks in one pan and readies in under an hour for the perfect busy weeknight dinner!
Eggplant pieces are first briefly pan-fried and then simmered with fatty pork belly strips to finish in a thick, slightly spicy coconut sauce. The resulting dish is rich, creamy, and absolutely heaven over heaps of steamed rice.
Cooking tips
- Choose eggplants with smooth, shiny skins free of wrinkling or blemishes and fresh-looking stems without signs of molds.
- No need to peel the fruit (yes, it is a fruit and not a vegetable); the skin is edible and packed with fiber and nutrients.
- Keep the cut eggplant in a bowl of water until ready to cook to prevent darkening.
- Eggplants are like sponges and tend to absorb a lot of oil when fried. Make sure to drain well on paper towels to keep the sauce from becoming overly greasy. If you want to skip the pan-frying altogether, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and roast in a 425 F oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and use in the recipe as directed.
- For a smoother consistency, cook in a simmer and do not let the coconut sauce come to a rolling boil lest it curdles and separates.
How to serve
- Ginataang Talong makes a great main dish for lunch or dinner paired with steamed rice.
- Since it contains coconut milk, this dish spoils rather quickly, especially in warm weather and outside refrigeration. Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a saucepan over low heat until completely warmed through. Or microwave at 2 to 3-minute intervals until heated through, stirring well after each interval.
Looking for more ginataan recipes? Try my mom's special Ginataang Seafood or this my super easy Ginataang Manok recipe and make sure to have plenty of rice ready.
Ginataang Talong
Ingredients
- canola oil
- 5 large eggplants, stems removed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 pound pork belly, cut into ½-inch strips
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut cream (kakang gata)
- 1 cup water
- 3 Thai chili peppers, stemmed and minced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a wide pan over medium heat, heat about two tablespoons of oil.
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Add eggplant and cook, turning as needed, until lightly browned. With a slotted spoon, remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
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In the pan, add another 1 tablespoon oil if needed. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.
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Add pork belly and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
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Add fish sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 2 minutes
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Add coconut cream and water and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer.
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Add chili peppers.
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Lower heat, cover, and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until pork is tender and sauce is reduced. Add more water in ½ cup increments if the liquid is drying out before pork is fully cooked.
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Add eggplant and gently stir to combine. Continue to cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until eggplants are tender and sauce begins to thicken and render fat.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Eggplant absorbs plenty of oil, and you may need to add more oil a tablespoon at a time during the brief pan-frying. Drain them on paper towels to rid of excess grease.
- As an alternative method to pan-frying, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and roast in a 425 F oven for about 10 minutes.
