Spicy Szechuan Chicken & Eggplant

• 1 1/2 pounds eggplant Chinese purple
• 1 1/2 pounds skinless chicken breast boneless, cubed
• salt
• 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce low-sodium
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sambal oelek dried, or 1 tablespoon jarred
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 shallot chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper or green, chopped
• 2 green onions chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms sliced

1. Cut the ends of the eggplant and slice on a diagonal into one inch pieces. Place in a microwave-safe bowl and cover pieces with water. Microwave for 11/2 minutes until just soft but not mushy, checking on it after 1 minute. Remove from oven, drain and pat dry on paper towels. Set aside.
2. To make the sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, tomato paste, sesame oil, sambal oelek, and brown sugar. Stir in cornstarch until dissolved. Set sauce aside.
3. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Cook chicken pieces in a large wok over medium high heat with 1 tablespoon canola oil until browned on both sides but not cooked through. Remove chicken from wok and set aside.
4. Add eggplant slices to wok in a single layer and cook until crisp and light golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove eggplant from pan and set aside.
5. Heat remaining tablespoon canola oil in the pan over high heat and add garlic and shallots. Cook until fragrant and translucent. Add in bell peppers and cook about 2-3 minutes. Add in green onions, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms and cook another 3 minutes. Stir in the sauce and eggplant, and chicken and cook until sauce has thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Garnish with extra green onions, and serve with a side of steamed rice.

eggplant chinese purple, chicken, salt, chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, tomato paste, sesame oil, sambal oelek, brown sugar, cornstarch, canola oil, garlic, shallot, red bell pepper, green onions, fresh ginger, shiitake mushrooms

Taken from www.yummly.com/recipe/Spicy-Szechuan-Chicken-_-Eggplant-1757783 (may not work)