Miso-grilled Aubergine & Cucumber Pickle Rice Bowl Recipe

This Miso-grilled aubergine & cucumber pickle rice bowl is a savory and umami recipe, which is made with sweet white miso and tender aubergine. It’s a straightforward recipe, ready in about an hour.

Miso-grilled Aubergine & Cucumber Pickle Rice Bowl Ingredients

For the Miso Aubergine:

• 3 aubergines (eggplants)
• 3 tablespoons sweet white (shiro) miso
• 1 tablespoon mirin rice wine
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)

For the Cucumber Pickle:

• ¼ of a cucumber
• 1 pinch caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons Japanese rice vinegar
• 1 large pinch sea salt

For the Sushi Rice:

• 300g sushi rice
• 4 tablespoons Japanese rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 1 pinch sea salt

For Garnish:

• 4 spring onions

How To Make Miso-grilled Aubergine & Cucumber Pickle Rice Bowl

1. Make the Cucumber Pickle: Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and place them in a bowl. Add a large pinch each of sea salt and sugar, and 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar. Massage the mixture into the cucumber, then place a small dish on top and weigh it down to help press out excess water. Set aside.
2. Cook the Sushi Rice: Rinse the rice in a sieve under cold water until the water runs almost clear. Place the drained rice in a small saucepan with 375ml of cold water. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook for 25 minutes. Do not lift the lid. Remove from the heat and let it stand, still covered, for 20 minutes.
3. Season the Rice: In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Gently fold this mixture into the cooked rice.
4. Grill the Aubergine: Set your grill to high. Quarter the aubergines lengthwise and score the flesh in a crisscross pattern. Place them flesh-side up on a foil-lined baking tray and grill for 15 minutes, until almost tender.
5. Glaze and Finish Grilling: In a small bowl, mix the miso, mirin, the remaining 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of water to create a glaze. Brush half of this glaze over the aubergine and return to the grill for 4-5 minutes. Brush with the remaining glaze and grill for another 4-5 minutes, until tender and caramelized.
6. Assemble and Serve: Divide the sticky rice between your bowls. Top with the miso-grilled aubergine. Finely slice the spring onions and scatter them over the top, along with toasted sesame seeds (if using). Serve with the cucumber pickle on the side.

Recipe Tips

• What kind of miso is best? The recipe calls for sweet white (shiro) miso, which is mild and slightly sweet. It’s perfect for glazes as it caramelizes beautifully without being overpowering.
• How to get the aubergine perfectly tender? Scoring the flesh is a key step. It helps the heat penetrate evenly and allows the glaze to soak in. Keep a close eye on it during the final grilling stage, as the miso can burn quickly due to its sugar content.
• Can I make the pickle ahead of time? Yes, the cucumber pickle can be made a day in advance. The flavour will actually improve as it sits in the pickling liquid in the refrigerator.
• Why rinse sushi rice? Rinsing the rice removes the excess starch from the surface of the grains. This is crucial for achieving the correct sticky, but not mushy, texture of perfect sushi rice.

What To Serve With Miso Aubergine Rice Bowls

This is a wonderful, complete meal on its own, but it also pairs nicely with:

• A simple miso soup
• Steamed edamame beans
• A side of Japanese spinach salad (Gomae)

How To Store Leftovers

• Refrigerate: For the best results, store the components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The rice can become hard when chilled.
• Reheating: Reheat the aubergine and rice gently in the microwave. The pickle should be served cold.

Miso Aubergine Rice Bowl Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 450-550 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 85g
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 8g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sticky Aubergine Noodles
• Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Sicilian Aubergine Pasta
• Aubergine Massaman Curry Recipe