Eggplant sidedish

Gaji-namul 가지나물

Gaji-namul is a simple, delicious, everyday Korean side dish, meant to be eaten with other side dishes and rice.

It’s one of my favorites. I love the fresh taste, soft texture, and the beautiful vibrant purple color of the dish on the table. It’s refreshing and goes well with oilier items to offset their texture and taste. I never get tired of it!

If you are a vegetarian, replace the fish sauce with soy sauce.

Ingredients

(serves 4):

1 pound of Korean eggplants (3-4 eggplants), caps removed and washed
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, crushed

Directions

Prep your steamer by adding 2 cups of water to it. Set heat to medium-high for it to boil, it shoud take about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut eggplants crosswise into 2½ inch pieces. Cut the thicker pieces in half lengthwise.
When the water starts boiling, put the eggplants on the steamer rack and cover. Steam for 5 minutes over medium high heat.
Remove from the heat. Take out the steamed eggplant and transfer to a cutting board. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes until you can easily handle them.
Tear each piece into bite size pieces.

Make seasoning mixture:

Combine garlic, green onion, soy sauce, fish sauce, hot pepper flakes, sesame oil in a mixing bowl.
Mix well with a wooden spoon.

Put it together & serve:

Add the steamed eggplant to the bowl and mix well by hand or with the wooden spoon.
Sprinkle with the crushed sesame seeds and serve with rice.

Posted on Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm. Last updated on August 31, 2017.
Tagged: easy eggplant recipe, eggplant, eggplant recipe, eggplant side dish, 가지나물, gaji namul, healthy eggplant recipe, how to cook eggplant, Korean eggplant dish, Korean eggplant side dish, Korean steamed eggplant, namul, steamed eggs, vegetarian dish, vegetarian eggplant recipe

160 Comments:

Mattias.A Australia joined 12/18 & has 2 comments
Posted February 23rd, 2019 at 9:47 am | Log in to reply.

Hello Maangchi!

I just made this recipe, however, I had to substitute the Korean eggplant for ‘western’ eggplant because I live in a small town and the only Asian grocery store, unfortunately, doesn’t sell that type of eggplant. Nevertheless, it was extremely delicious and I’m so thankful that you share all of these recipes with us! Will be making this dish regularly from now to eat with my dinner (I’m a student so this is perfect for me!)

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- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted February 27th, 2019 at 9:16 am | Log in to reply.
  
  Wow! You made it very nicely!
Adelina colorado joined 10/18 & has 5 comments
Posted October 28th, 2018 at 10:25 am | Log in to reply.

I tried your gaji-namul recipe for making the bibimbap and it was a hit! So simple, yet satisfying and utterly delicious! I did replace the fish sauce with coco aminos, being a vegetarian.
I am simply mesmerized with Korean cooking. Being from Eastern Europe, married to an Indian man, living in the US (melting pot indeed), Korean food is such a discovery!
Now I am serving kimchi with everything, including Moldovan traditional dishes ;)!
Our landlady is Korean, and I have asked her to taste my Kimchi that I made based on your recipe and she was wowed. Again, thank you!

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- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted November 16th, 2018 at 8:18 am | Log in to reply.
  
  No wonder it was a big hit, it looks so juicy and delicious! You used coco aminos instead of fish sauce to make it vegetarian? I should check it out, thanks for the tip!
  - Adelina colorado joined 10/18 & has 5 comments
    Posted November 16th, 2018 at 8:36 am | Log in to reply.
    
    You are welcome!
    Yesterday I tried adding some zucchini along with eggplant, and serves it with quinoa.
    It was lips-macking!
    It may be my master recipe for so many other fried vegetables! Thanks a bunch.
    
    See full size image
inoueee KL joined 10/18 & has 1 comment
Posted October 11th, 2018 at 9:16 am | Log in to reply.

Hello … I just try this recipe. It’s yummy. Thanks Maangchi.

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Kimxp uk joined 9/18 & has 1 comment
Posted September 30th, 2018 at 10:27 am | Log in to reply.

can I not add the red pepper powder in if I don’t eat spicy food? and also can I add some sugar to make it sweeter ? will it changes the original flavour ?
- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted October 3rd, 2018 at 8:50 am | Log in to reply.
  
  You can modify the recipe to your taste, just skip the red pepper powder and add more sugar!
sunnylightmode BC, Canada joined 2/17 & has 2 comments
Posted May 28th, 2018 at 2:40 am | Log in to reply.

I love this recipe!! Mine isn’t as vibrant purple because I can’t find nice Asian eggplants around here so I use the fatter, darker purpleones, but this is my second week making a big batch to eat for breakfast every day before school. I really like the soft juiciness of the eggplant with plenty of garlic flavour :D
loraein Singapore joined 9/12 & has 5 comments
Posted December 12th, 2017 at 7:49 am | Log in to reply.

Maangchi!

Tried this recipe today!… I replaced the fish sauce with salt because I didn’t have it at home thou. Taste not bad and I think with fish sauce it will be even better. =DDDDDD

Thanks for the recipe…!

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- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted December 16th, 2017 at 10:13 pm | Log in to reply.
  
  Gorgeous! Soy sauce will work well, too if fish sauce is not available.
pheedmepls United States joined 8/14 & has 1 comment
Posted November 18th, 2017 at 6:15 pm | Log in to reply.

i first saw this at the korean market around the block from me. decided to try some since there were so many other people buying some. mmmm! i love eggplant and the sauce is so good. of course, i knew you had to have a recipe for it here. just made it and ohhhh, i’m in heaven! love it! thanks for sharing all your great recipes!
- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted November 20th, 2017 at 10:05 am | Log in to reply.
  
  I’m glad you liked the recipe! This is one of the all-time most authentic Korean recipes!
Dont have anyother name Melbourne, Australia joined 10/17 & has 1 comment
Posted October 16th, 2017 at 6:01 pm | Log in to reply.

Dear Maangchi,
Love your cooking and like your site.Going to make Eggplant side dish.Would you please tell me,what is 《hot pepper flack》 If I can’t find what do I use inside of?
Many thanks.
Rosemarie Sandvik ☺
- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted October 19th, 2017 at 10:25 pm | Log in to reply.
  
  Check this out, Rosemarie!
  https://www.maangchi.com/ingredient/hot-pepper-flakes
PierreM France joined 10/17 & has 1 comment
Posted October 2nd, 2017 at 2:26 pm | Log in to reply.

Just tried, really good :)) Thank you Maangchi for sharing!
Patti West Bloomfield, MI joined 7/10 & has 4 comments
Posted September 9th, 2017 at 3:37 am | Log in to reply.

I made this dish tonight. It is so very tasty! Now I know why this is one of your favorites, Maangchi! Thank you for sharing your recipes and your time.
Tofu888 Alhambra joined 8/17 & has 2 comments
Posted August 31st, 2017 at 12:56 am | Log in to reply.

What kind of soy sauce you use for this ? Regular soy sauce or light or sweet soy sauce ?
- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted August 31st, 2017 at 10:22 am | Log in to reply.
  
  It’s this soy sauce: https://www.maangchi.com/ingredient/soy-sauce
  Thanks for letting me know I didn’t have links in the ingredient list! I just added them now.
  - Tofu888 Alhambra joined 8/17 & has 2 comments
    Posted September 1st, 2017 at 11:08 pm | Log in to reply.
    
    Thank you so much
purplegdr brooklyn joined 1/17 & has 1 comment
Posted January 5th, 2017 at 2:46 pm | Log in to reply.

Hello! I am steaming baby bok choi now… what about using the same marinade and make “bok choi side dish”? :)
Credmiston WA joined 7/16 & has 1 comment
Posted July 21st, 2016 at 3:34 pm | Log in to reply.

Yum! Just made this and was dancing up and down waiting for the rice cooker to finish! Ate a huge bowl of rice and half the recipe as lunch. Happily full, mouth slightly burning just a warm slow burn from the pepper flakes, slight hum of sesame wafting around. Delicious!
WhattheNorris North Carolina joined 5/16 & has 2 comments
Posted May 20th, 2016 at 6:47 pm | Log in to reply.

Maangchi this is your first recipe I’ve made! I love your youtube channel and all of your videos and your personality! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes! I will buy your book soon!! I think I over-cooked my eggplant a little, but this still came out so tasty! Even my boyfriend liked it!

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- Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 11,658 comments
  Posted May 21st, 2016 at 6:38 am | Log in to reply.
  
  Your gaji-namul looks juicy, soft, and delicious! Yummy!
  - WhattheNorris North Carolina joined 5/16 & has 2 comments
    Posted May 22nd, 2016 at 5:07 pm | Log in to reply.
    
    Thank you Maangchi!!!

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Eggplant sidedish
Korean name: 가지나물
Romanized: Gaji-namul
Also Romanized as: gajinamul

Categories: appetizer, easy, side dish, spicy, vegetarian
Made with: eggplant, fish sauce, garlic, green onion, hot pepper flakes, sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce,