The eggplant becomes soft around a tender pork filling, so small cooled pieces can be shared if the child accepts pork. Check whether a related version adds shrimp or oyster sauce.
Recipes vary. Ask the restaurant about ingredients and serving before you order.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Related dim-sum versions mix shrimp with pork and add an oyster-sauce dressing. Fillings and the final cooking method vary.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savoury pork and mild eggplant, with soy-based sauce in some versions.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Soft eggplant surrounding a tender filling.
- How it’s made
- Fill the split eggplant pieces, pan-fry them and finish cooking until the filling and eggplant are done. Steaming after frying is one method.
Related dim-sum versions mix shrimp with pork and add an oyster-sauce dressing. Fillings and the final cooking method vary.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Guangdong.
About this regional connection
Guangdong: Guangdong/Hakka association, not an exclusive origin claim.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有客家酿茄子吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
The changing trio of Hakka “three treasures”
Hakka stuffed eggplant can be one of the “three treasures,” a plate of stuffed ingredients. In Heyuan, the trio combines eggplant, bitter melon and chili peppers. In Chixi, Taishan, one version pairs eggplant and bitter melon with tofu instead. The shared idea is stuffing; the three ingredients are not fixed across every Hakka table.