Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry with Ground Pork

Name: Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry with Ground Pork
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 3 pcs eggplants; 200 gr ground pork; 2 pcs salted fish (cut into small pieces and fried); 2 pcs shitake mushrooms (soaked); 5 pcs red chilis (optional); 3 pcs garlic; 2-3 pcs scallions (minced); 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tsp mushroom powder; 1 tsp chili oil; 1 tsp chili bean sauce; 1 tbsp shaoxing wine; 100 cc water; 1 tbsp cornstarch (add 2 tbsp water); 1 tsp szechuan peppercorn (optional)

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This Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork is one of my favorite easy meals to make at home. Tender eggplant is stir-fried with savory minced pork, garlic, and oyster sauce until rich, glossy, and deeply flavorful. Served with warm steamed rice, this Chinese-style eggplant stir fry is simple, comforting, and perfect for busy weeknights.

Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork in a white plate on pink napkin.

A Quick Look at the Recipe

🏷️ Recipe Name: Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry with Ground Pork
⏱️ Ready In: ~ 25 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4 portions
🔥 Calories: 159 kcal per serving (estimate)
🧾 Main Ingredients: Eggplant, ground pork, salted fish, shitake mushroom, chili, garlic, scallion, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chili oil, chili bean sauce, shaoxing wine, szechuan peppercorn, cornstarch.
🥗 Dietary Info: Gluten free
🧠 Difficulty: Medium with very simple steps.

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This Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork is inspired by one of my favorite dishes from a local Chinese restaurant. Tender eggplant is cooked until silky and flavorful, then stir-fried with savory minced pork, garlic, oyster sauce, chili oil, and aromatic seasonings for a rich and comforting meal.

What I love most about this eggplant stir fry recipe is how the eggplant absorbs all the savory sauce while staying soft and buttery inside. Served with warm steamed rice, this Chinese-style pork and eggplant stir fry makes an easy weeknight dinner that tastes just like restaurant-style stir-fried eggplant.

If you enjoy easy Chinese-style dishes and comforting stir fry recipes, you may also like my Ground Pork with Tofu, Steamed Pork Patty with Salted Vegetables, Steamed Ground Pork with Sour Vegetables, and other Asian dinner recipes.

If you love restaurant-style Chinese comfort food, you may also enjoy my Air Fryer Char Siu Chicken, Egg Foo Young, and other easy Asian stir fry recipes for busy weeknight dinners.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Quick and easy – This Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork comes together quickly once everything is prepared, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Better than takeout – Tender eggplant, savory minced pork, garlic, oyster sauce, and aromatic seasonings create a rich restaurant-style stir fry at home.
Packed with umami flavor – The eggplant absorbs all the delicious savory sauce while staying silky and soft inside.
Perfect with steamed rice – This comforting Chinese-style pork and eggplant stir fry pairs perfectly with a bowl of warm white rice.
Authentic Chinese-style flavor – Made with oyster sauce, chili bean sauce, garlic, and peppercorns for a bold and flavorful stir-fried eggplant dish.

Recipe Ingredients

Eggplant with ground pork and oyster sauce ingredients with labels.

Ingredients to Note

Eggplant – Asian eggplants work best for this Chinese eggplant stir fry because they become tender and silky after cooking.

Ground pork – Adds savory flavor and richness that pairs perfectly with the soft eggplant and umami sauce.

Chili bean sauce – Gives the stir fry its authentic Chinese-style savory and slightly spicy flavor.

Salted fish – Adds a deep umami flavor commonly found in Chinese restaurant-style eggplant dishes. You can reduce or omit it if preferred.

Dried shiitake mushrooms – Add extra earthy flavor and absorb the delicious stir fry sauce beautifully.

Oyster sauce and soy sauce – Create a rich savory sauce that coats the eggplant and ground pork perfectly.

Peppercorn – Adds extra aroma and depth of flavor that makes this Chinese-style eggplant stir fry taste more like restaurant-style stir-fried eggplant.

How to Make Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry with Ground Pork

Photo collage of preparing the ingredients for cooking.

STEP 1. Soak the dried mushrooms with hot water (Image 1). Set aside. Slice them thinly when it is soft. Cut the eggplants into small slices, around 7-8 cm length (Image 2). Deep fry until the color turns a bit brown (Images 3, 4). Drain. Set aside.

Photo collage of deep frying the salted fish and sauteeing the garlic and meat.

STEP 2. Deep-fry the salted fish (Image 5), cut them into small pieces. If you like them crunchy, cut them into tiny pieces and deep-fry them again. Heat some oil in the wok, put in minced garlic and ginger, sautee until fragrant (Images 6, 7). Thrown in the ground pork, stir fry until it changes color.

Photo collage of stir frying and seasoning all the ingredients.

STEP 3. Throw in mushrooms. Add in oyster sauce, soy sauce, chili bean sauce, chili oil, and mushroom powder (Images 9, 10). Throw in the fried eggplants (Image 11). Add water (Image 12).

Photo collage of making the broth thick by adding cornstarch slurry.

STEP 4. Pour cooking wine into the wok (Image 13). Add cornstarch slurry (Image 14), don’t forget to stir it before adding. Throw in some green onion and chili (Image 15). And last, add the salted fish (Image 16). Stir for the final time and serve on a plate. Enjoy with steamed white rice.

Pro Tips

To achieve silky and tender eggplant, you can roast, deep-fry, steam, or boil the eggplant before stir-frying. Deep-frying gives the most restaurant-style texture for Chinese eggplant stir fry.
Cut the salted fish into tiny pieces and fry until crispy before adding it to the stir fry. A small amount adds deep savory umami flavor without overpowering the dish.
If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the chili and chili oil. You can also substitute the chili bean sauce with regular bean sauce for a less spicy Chinese-style eggplant stir fry.
For extra aroma and flavor, use homemade scallion oil when stir-frying the garlic, ginger, and ground pork.
For a spicier version, add a spoonful of homemade garlic chili oil before serving. It adds extra heat, aroma, and savory flavor to the eggplant stir-fry.
Prepare all the ingredients before cooking because this Chinese eggplant stir fry cooks quickly once everything is added to the wok.

Serving Suggestions

This Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork is best served with steamed white rice, noodles, or even low-carb shirataki noodles to soak up the savory sauce. For a complete Chinese-style meal, pair it with Chive Eggs , Sautéed Green Beans Garlic, or a savory Shrimp Omelette. If you enjoy crispy side dishes, Shrimp Balls or Meatballs also pair beautifully with this comforting eggplant stir fry recipe.

To complete the meal, serve this Chinese-style stir fry with a warm drink like Wedang Jahe (Red Ginger Drink) or a creamy Oolong Milk Tea. Finish with a refreshing dessert like Mango Sago Dessert, Candil Ubi, or Pulut Hitam.

A plate of Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork.

Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry with Ground Pork FAQs

What type of eggplant is best for Chinese eggplant stir fry?

Chinese or Japanese eggplants work best because they have thinner skin, fewer seeds, and a tender texture that becomes soft and silky after stir-frying.

What should I serve with Chinese eggplant stir fry?

This dish pairs perfectly with steamed white rice, noodles, stir-fried vegetables, or other Chinese-style side dishes for a complete meal.

How do Chinese restaurants make eggplant so soft?

Many Chinese restaurants deep-fry the eggplant briefly before stir-frying it with sauce. This creates the soft, silky texture often found in restaurant-style Chinese eggplant stir fry dishes.

Can I make this eggplant stir fry less spicy?

Yes. You can reduce or omit the chili oil and chili bean sauce for a milder flavor while still keeping the savory umami taste from the oyster sauce and seasonings.

Can I make Chinese eggplant stir fry without pork?

Absolutely. You can substitute the ground pork with tofu, mushrooms, or plant-based meat alternatives for a vegetarian-friendly version.

Why does eggplant absorb so much oil?

Eggplant naturally acts like a sponge when cooking. To reduce oil absorption, you can lightly salt the eggplant first, roast it, or steam it before stir-frying.

A plate of Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork on a wooden table.

Storage

Store leftover Chinese eggplant stir fry with ground pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Avoid storing it too long because the eggplant will continue to soften and may become mushy.