The sauce had a good balance of sweetness ... My local grocery store doesn't sell Japanese eggplant, which is typically narrower and slightly sweeter than American eggplant.

Add equal parts of sake, soy sauce, sugar and mirin. Return the eggplant and add salt, pepper and sansho pepper. 5. Serve on cooked rice with the pickles and shredded shiso leaves. 1. Shell the ...