I typically roast whole eggplant on the stove top or an outdoor grill, remove the charred skin, and serve the soft, slightly smoky flesh with green onion oil and a dipping sauce of fish sauce and garlic, a Vietnamese classic called cà tím nướng mỡ hành. When I learned that eggplant skin is loaded with antioxidants, I began thinking about how I could tweak the popular side dish to retain the skin.

　　Surprisingly, microwaving the entire eggplant proved to be the best way to effortlessly and evenly cook the purple orbs to a wonderful plush texture and sweet flavor. The skin is chewy-tender, and very pleasant to eat. See the Cooks' Notes below for a stove-top steamer method. To season with delicate sweet smokiness, I made a rich green onion topping with garlic, fish sauce, and Spanish smoked paprika (sold in the spice aisle of many markets). The result is a new rendition that’s easy, healthful, and delicious in its own right

　　This recipe was excerpted from 'Vietnamese Food Any Day' by Andrea Nguyen. Buy the full book on Amazon. See more of our favorite recipes from Andrea Nguyen →

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What you’ll need

　　Chevron

　　Chevron

　　Smoked Paprika

　　$8 At Hive

　　Fish Sauce

　　$15 At Amazon

　　

Ingredients

Serves 4

　　1 medium eggplant

　　2½ Tbsp. canola or other neutral oil

　　½ tsp. smoked paprika

　　2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

　　1 Tbsp. fish sauce, or scant 1½ Tbsp. soy sauce

　　⅓ cup thinly sliced green onion, green and white parts

　　Fine sea salt

　　

Step 1

Peel off the pointy flaps of the eggplant cap but leave the stem intact, then, using a fork, poke the eggplant twelve to sixteen times all over. Put the eggplant on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for about 6 minutes, until soft, a bit deflated looking, and cooked through (poke a knife into the thickest part). If you’re unsure, cook for another minute or so. Let the eggplant sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, or until cool enough to handle

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the canola oil and smoked paprika. After 3 to 4 minutes, when the oil is fragrant, hot, and a deep orange color, add the garlic and fish sauce. Let bubble and sizzle for roughly 10 seconds to combine and lightly cook the garlic, then add the green onion, stir, and, when softened (another 10 seconds), remove from the heat. Let cool for a few minutes before tasting; if needed, add salt, a pinch at a time, to obtain a robust, savory finish. Set the sauce aside.

　　

Step 3

Trim the stem end of the eggplant and cut the eggplant lengthwise into slices, each a good ½ inch thick. Cut each slice lengthwise into long spears as wide as your thumb. Leave as dramatic spears, or cut them crosswise to more easily maneuver. Transfer the spears to a serving plate, leaving behind the goopy liquid that the eggplant naturally releases. Top the eggplant spears with the sauce.

　　

Step 4

At the table, gently mix the eggplant and sauce to combine the flavors, and serve.

　　Cooks' Note

　　Select eggplants that feel solid and heavy. The skin should be smooth, glossy, and mostly blemish-free. Instead of one medium eggplant (visualize a softball with a baseball on top), use two 10-ounce ones (a tennis ball topped by a racquetball). The microwave and steam cooking times (following) are roughly the same for both sizes. Regular grocery-store eggplants are called for here, but try other kinds, such as slender Chinese eggplants; you need roughly one pound total. Summer is peak eggplant season.

　　You can cook the eggplant and sauce up to 2 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Return to room temperature before using; drain and warm the eggplant slightly before serving.

　　To steam an eggplant, trim off the stem, then cut the eggplant lengthwise into pieces a good ½ inch thick. In batches, cut-side down, steam in a basket or rack set over boiling water for about 12 minutes, until soft and cooked through. Add water to the pot as needed

　　Excerpted from Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors © 2019 by Andrea Nguyen. Photography © 2019 by Aubrie Pick. Reproduced by permission of Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. All rights reserved.Buy the full book from Amazon.