EGGPLANT SOUP CHINESE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Peel away any excess paper from the bulb of garlic, then cut the top off to expose the cloves. Rub exposed cloves with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil, and set onto the prepared baking sheet. Poke the eggplant all over with a fork; place onto baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the garlic has turned golden brown and the eggplant is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool until cool enough to handle. Peel eggplant and chop into large chunks; peel or squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, then stir in reserved eggplant, roasted garlic, tomato puree, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes.
• Once cooked, carefully puree soup in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return soup to the stove in a clean saucepan. Stir in half-and-half, season to taste with salt and pepper; cook over medium-low heat until hot.

Steps:

• In a medium soup pot, combine the vegetable broth, water, lemongrass, sliced ginger and soy sauce and season generously with white pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat until flavorful, about 20 minutes. Strain the broth into a heatproof bowl, pressing on the solids. Discard the solids.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Cook the rice vermicelli until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain and cool under running water.
• Wipe out the soup pot and heat the vegetable oil. Add the eggplant and shiitake mushrooms, season with salt and white pepper and cook the vegetables over high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the chopped ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tofu and cook, stirring gently once or twice, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the vegetable broth along with the cabbage and noodles and simmer just until the cabbage is wilted, about 2 minutes longer. Stir in the bean sprouts, cilantro and mint and season the soup with salt and white pepper. Serve the soup in deep bowls, passing lime wedges and hot sauce at the table.