I am a recent convert to the culinary delights of the humble eggplant and it has been a must order for me, be it in the neighbourhood cai png store or a Thai/Chinese restaurant.

Sabai Sabai serves a really wonderful stir fried eggplant with minced pork. I can't seem to find this dish on their regular menu so it was probably an off the menu item. The eggplant is flavoured with an umami filled sauce made from fermented bean sauce, garlic, Thai sweet basil, soy sauce and oyster sauce. All of these flavours are soaked into the tender "meat" of the eggplant. I also love the sweet caramelised notes of the minced pork and onions, and the licorice-like taste of the Thai basil.

This dish is excellent over rice and a literal rice thief!