Fried Eggplant Sandwiches with Pork Filling

Elevate your snack game with these Fried Eggplant Sandwiches with Pork Filling, a traditional favorite that features a juicy, savory meat center inside a crispy-fried eggplant pocket. These “sandwiches” are a wonderful combination of textures, making them an impressive appetizer or side dish.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• The “pocket” cut ensures the savory meat filling stays trapped inside, steaming the pork while the eggplant outside becomes perfectly golden.
• The light, airy batter provides a satisfying crunch that shatters upon entry, revealing the tender, seasoned pork within.
• They are incredibly fun to eat and serve, making them a standout dish for dinner parties or family gatherings.

Key Ingredients

• Chinese Eggplant: Sliced into thick rounds with a “butterfly” cut to create the perfect vessel for the meat stuffing.

• Minced Pork: Seasoned with soy and sesame oil, it provides a juicy and savory heart to the crispy sandwich.

• Baking Powder: A small amount in the batter creates tiny air bubbles, resulting in a much lighter and crispier fried shell.

✅Quick Tips: Don’t overstuff the eggplant; a thin, even layer of meat ensures the pork cooks through at the same rate the eggplant browns.

Key Steps

• #1: The Butterfly Cut: Slice the eggplant rounds 90% of the way through so they open like a book but stay connected at the base.
• #2: The Meat Seal: Stuff the pork inside and press the edges; the starch in the meat helps “glue” the eggplant together.

#3: The Batter Dip: Fully submerge each sandwich in the thick batter before carefully lowering into the hot oil for a perfect seal.

Fried Eggplant Sandwiches with Pork Filling

Crispy, batter-fried eggplant rounds stuffed with a savory five-spice pork filling.

Author: Aila Lin Cooking Method: Pork, Vegetables Courses: Main Dishes, Snacks

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 45 mins Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 2 Chinese eggplants

• 1 lb minced pork

• cooking oil (for frying)

Meat Filling:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 pinch white pepper
• 1 stalk scallion (chopped)

Batter

• 60 g all-purpose flour
• 30 g cornstarch
• 5 g baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 120 ml water

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine ground pork with meat filling ingredient and set aside.
2. Slice eggplant into thick rounds.
3. Cut into pockets without slicing through.
4. Stuff pork filling inside.
5. Mix batter until smooth.
6. Heat oil to medium heat.
7. Dip eggplant into batter.
8. Deep-fry for 7–8 minutes until golden brown.
9. Remove and drain.
10. Serve hot..

Keywords: Qie He Recipe, Stuffed Eggplant Sandwiches, Deep Fried Eggplant with Pork