• Ready to bring this flavorful dish to life? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you master it.

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

• In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, olive oil, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, garlic, chili paste, and chopped cilantro stems. Whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. This mix should smell nothing short of amazing!

Step 2: Slice the Eggplant

• Take the eggplants and slice them into 1/2-inch thick rounds. This thickness is key. Too thin and they’ll fall apart; too thick, and they won’t absorb enough marinade.

Step 3: Marinate the Eggplant

• Place the eggplant slices in a large dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the eggplant, ensuring that each piece is coated evenly. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. For deeper flavor, marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator. Don’t rush this step; good things take time!

Step 4: Preheat the Grill

• While the eggplant marinates, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you’re using a grill pan, make sure it’s well-heated too. This will create that perfect grill marks we all love.

Step 5: Grill the Eggplant

• Once your grill is hot, remove the eggplant from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Place the rounds on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Look for a nice char and tenderness.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

• Once grilled to perfection, remove the eggplant from the grill and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot, and enjoy the satisfying results of your efforts!