Szechuan Spicy Eggplant

1. Remove eggplant stem and cut flesh into 1-inch cubes. Set aside.

2. Mix together soy sauce, stock, oyster sauce, chili sauce, sugar, and black pepper in a medium bowl until well combined; set aside. Stir together water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth; set aside.

3. Coat a large, deep pan with cooking spray over high heat and heat until very hot, about 3 minutes. Cook and stir 1/2 of the green onions, ginger, and garlic in the hot pan until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add beef; cook and stir until lightly browned and crumbly, about 3 minutes.

4. Stir in eggplant, then pour soy sauce mixture over all. Cover the pan, reduce heat to medium low, and let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp during the last few minutes of cooking.

5. Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened. Mix in remaining green onions and sesame oil. Serve over hot rice.

Tips

You can use 3 tablespoons dried shrimp instead of fresh shrimp; add with the garlic and ginger in step 3.

You can use ground pork instead of ground beef.