It's also notorious for absorbing oil when it's fried, but that's not a problem with this recipe, where the eggplant is steamed ... to thin out the sauce. Buy Chinese or Japanese eggplants ...

Local author Betty Liu gives you basic techniques in "The Chinese Way," then you can adapt her recipes to suit your pantry.

Nailing the texture and flavor of eggplant can be tough, but these helpful tips and recipes will make it a staple in your dinner rotation.

Editor’s note: In the Taste of Life series, cooking experts ... whose name featured the Chinese characters for “grind,” “broil,” “spicy” and “eggplant,” piqued his interest.

What a fantastic recipe ... begging for Chinese food, and moo goo gai pan may win out instead. Then, on Sunday, after the Bourguignon for lunch, I’ll downshift into fried eggplant for supper ...