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      Home » Thai Appetizers

      Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad with Pork

      Published: Aug 9, 2022 by Suwanee · This post may contain affiliate links.

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      Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad with pork or Yam Makeua Yao is a refreshing salad made with grilled Asian eggplant mixed with fresh herbs and seasoned with fresh lime juice and fish sauce. All the Thai flavors are here in one bowl. Simply delicious!

      For more light meals, check out these delicious Thai recipes. Thai crispy egg salad yum kai dao. A light, crispy, and flavor bomb that people are raving about. Also, check out NamTok beef waterfall salad. I can't get enough of this grilled beef salad!

      eggplant salad with ground pork

      What is Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad with pork? (Yum Makeua Yao)

      Thai grilled eggplant salad or Yam Makeua Yao (ยำมะเขือยาว) is a delightful salad with eggplants typically cooked on a hot grill at high heat until the skin of the eggplants is soft and charred. The eggplant slices are added to a salad with ground pork, dried shrimp, peanuts, shallot, green onions, cilantro, and fresh Thai chilis. The salad is seasoned with fish sauce and lime juice for a light and fresh salad. It can be eaten as a starter or as a main course served with jasmine rice.

      The eggplants perfect for this Thai salad are Thai long green eggplants, purple Japanese eggplants, Chinese eggplants, or Fairytale eggplants.

      Why This Recipe Works

      • This eggplant dish is easy to put together. It can be served in less than 30 minutes, perfect for a light lunch or quick weeknight dinner.
      • It is one of the most healthy dishes on my blog! No sugar, low fat, gluten-free, and full of healthy herbs and options to add more vegetables. 
      • It is a perfect recipe to make during the summer grilling months.
      • You can also turn this recipe into a roasted eggplant salad for those winter months when you don't want to be outside using the grill.
      • Many eggplants are great for this recipe, making it easy to find all the ingredients in your local market.

      Ingredients for Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad with Pork

      ingredients for Thai eggplant salad

      • Thai, Chinese, or Japanese long purple eggplant. You can find these eggplants at your local Asian supermarkets. The Thai long green eggplants may be more difficult to find, but the long purple Asian eggplants are perfect for this recipe.
      • Ground pork. (About 1 cup, or use ground chicken, beef, or tofu)
      • Dried shrimp. Soak in water for 5 minutes before using. A great addition to the extra umami flavor!
      • Thai chilis or serranos work great! Adjust as needed for spiciness level.
      • Shallots. Sliced long and thin. Red/purple onions work wonderfully too! 
      • Jalapenos pepper for extra crunch and spiciness. Removed the seeds for less heat.
      • Spring onions, chopped small.
      • Cilantro, chopped small. Use both cilantro leaves and stems
      • Ground white pepper. Black pepper is ok as a substitute.
      • Fish sauce. Use 3 crab or red boat brands for this recipe if possible. They are lighter and sweeter.
      • Fresh lime juice. Lemon juice or rice wine vinegar works great too. Adjust as needed.
      • Peanuts, cashew, or almonds work great too!
      • Eggs, soft or medium boiled. (optional)
      • Oil or cooking spray. Use a tiny brush of oil to brush on the eggplant halves before grilling to help prevent the skin of the eggplant from sticking to the grill.

      How To Make Yum Makeua Yao 

      Step one. Wash, dry, then cut the long eggplants in half. Lightly brush each side with oil. Grill on high heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Look for the grill marks before flipping to the other side. If broiling, place the eggplants on a large baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes until charred but not burnt.grilled long eggplants

      Step two. Remove the eggplants and leave them to cool at room temperature before slicing them into small pieces. Chopped grilled eggplants

      Step three. Cook the pork on medium heat in a small frying pan until lightly browned. Cooked ground pork  

      Step four. Soak the dried shrimp in a small bowl for 5 minutes, drain and set aside for a minute. If using boiled eggs, boil it now for 3-6 minutes until you are happy with the consistency of the egg. (: 

      Step five. Make the salad by adding the remaining ingredients into a large bowl. salad in a glass bowl over cutting board

      Step six. Add the eggplant slices into the salad bowl and mix everything well. Dish the salad into a serving platter, and serve with boiled eggs and jasmine rice. grilled Eggplant salad in a glass bowl

      Spicy Thai eggplant salad with pork can be served as a side dish or enjoyed as a complete meal. Season with more fish sauce, lime juice, ground white pepper, and even a touch of sugar or sweetener of your choice to balance out the flavor. Enjoy!

      Helpful Kitchen Notes And Expert Tips

      • You can remove the skin of the cooked eggplants if you prefer for a less fibrous taste.
      • If your salad is too salty or sour, try adding a touch of white, brown, or palm sugar to take the edge off the salad.
      • You can use cooked large shrimp then chopped into smaller pieces if you don't care for dried shrimp.
      • For extra vegetables, add bell peppers and sweet, white, or red onion for extra crunchiness.

      grilled Eggplant salad in a platter with lime, boiled egg and chili flakes garnish

      FAQs

      Do you peel eggplant before cooking it?

      No. I keep my eggplant's skin intact until after cooking to peel off the skin once cooked. The traditional eggplants used in this Thai dish are the long green eggplants. The skin on those is thinner than the globe and Italian eggplants making them easier to digest than the thicker eggplants found in Western grocery stores.

      Can you use Thai eggplants to make Thai Yum Makeua Yao?

      The Thai eggplants typically found in Asian markets in the West are the round green ones. Those are not recommended for this recipe as they are a bit more bitter and crunchier than the long Asian eggplants.

      More Thai recipes you'll love

      • Thai crispy egg salad yum kai dao
      • Thai cucumber salad
      • Thai green mango salad with cashew
      • Thai glass noodles salad with shrimp
      • Easy Thai beef salad recipe
      • Namtok Thai beef waterfall salad
      • Thai green papaya salad

      ** Love a recipe you've tried? Please leave a 5-star ?rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram! **

      Print
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      grilled eggplants salad on a plate

      Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad


      ★★★★★

      5 from 1 review

      • Author: Suwanee
      • Total Time: 30
      • Yield: 4 1x
      • Diet: Gluten Free
      Print Recipe
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      Description

      Spicy Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad with pork or Yam Makeua Yao is a refreshing salad made with grilled Asian eggplant mixed with fresh herbs and seasoned with fresh lime juice and fish sauce. All the Thai flavors are here in one bowl. Simply delicious! 


      Ingredients

      Scale
      • 1 lb Thai, Chinese, or Japanese long eggplant. You can find these eggplants at your local Asian supermarkets. The Thai long green eggplants may be more difficult to find, but the long purple Asian eggplants are perfect for this recipe.
      • ¼ pound ground pork. (About 1 cup, you can use ground chicken, beef, or tofu)
      • /4 cup dried shrimp
      • 1-4 fresh Thai chili, adjust as needed for spiciness level.
      • 2 shallots, slice long and thin
      • 1 jalapenos pepper for extra crunch and spiciness. Removed the seeds for less heat.
      • 1 large stem of spring onions, chopped small
      • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped small. Use both cilantro leaves and stems
      • 1 tsp ground white pepper. Black pepper is acceptable as a substitute.
      • 2 tablespoon fish sauce.
      • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
      • ¼ cup peanuts
      • 2 eggs, soft or medium boiled
      • Oil. Just a tiny brush of oil to brush on the eggplant halves before grilling to help prevent the skin of the eggplant from sticking to the grill.

      Instructions

      1. Wash, dry, then cut the long eggplants in half. Lightly brush each side with oil. Grill on high heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Look for the grill marks before flipping to the other side. If broiling, place the eggplants on a large baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes until charred but not burnt.
      2. Remove the eggplants and leave them to cool at room temperature before slicing them into small pieces. 
      3. Cook the pork on medium heat in a small frying pan until lightly browned. 
      4. Soak the dried shrimp in a small bowl for 5 minutes, drain and set aside for a minute. If using boiled eggs, boil it now for 3-6 minutes until you are happy with the consistency of the egg. (: 
      5. Make the salad by adding the remaining ingredients into a large bowl.
      6. Add the eggplant slices into the salad bowl and mix everything well. Dish the salad into a serving platter, and serve with boiled eggs and jasmine rice. 

      Spicy Thai eggplant salad with pork can be served as a side dish or enjoyed as a complete meal. Season with more fish sauce, lime juice, ground white pepper, and even a touch of sugar or sweetener of your choice to balance out the flavor. Enjoy!

      Notes

      • You can remove the skin of the cooked eggplants if you prefer for a less fibrous taste.
      • If your salad is too salty or sour, try adding a touch of white, brown, or palm sugar to take the edge off the salad.
      • You can use cooked large shrimp then chopped into smaller pieces if you don't care for dried shrimp.
      • For extra vegetables, add bell peppers and sweet, white, or red onion for extra crunchiness.

      ** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **

      • Prep Time: 15
      • Cook Time: 15
      • Category: Salad
      • Method: Grilling
      • Cuisine: Thai

      Did you make this recipe?

      Please rate and review this recipe in the comment section below so I can improve and make it a better experience for you!

      More Thai & Asian Appetizer Recipes

      • authentic nam prik ong dip in a bowl with vegetables.
        Authentic Nam Prik Ong (Thai Pork and Tomato Dip)
      • butter fly shrimp on a tray with dipping sauces.
        The Best Butterfly Shrimp Recipe (With Thai Gogi Tempura)
      • roasted Kabocha Squash seeds on a small bowl.
        Roasted Kabocha Squash Seeds (Tom Yum Flavors)
      • Shrimp in a Blanket (Goong Hom Pha)

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Danny

        July 30, 2023 at 9:18 pm

        We love this so much! The salty and tangy taste really made the dish extra delicious. Awesome and easy recipe!

        ★★★★★

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      Hi there, I’m Suwanee! I'm the person behind this Thai food blog. I spent thirteen years of childhood in Thailand, where I was first introduced to the flavors of Thai cooking. You are in the right place if you: Love to cook Thai food. Come by often, and let's get cooking! Read More…

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