Hoisin aubergine bao buns recipe

Name: Hoisin aubergine bao buns
Yield: Makes 12
Ingredients: 3 aubergines, trimmed and cut into 2cm rounds; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp cornflour; 80ml hoisin dipping sauce; 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar; 1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce; ½ tsp Chinese five spice; 2 tsp sesame seeds; 3cm piece fresh ginger, finely grated; 1 garlic clove, finely crushed; 1 tbsp light brown soft sugar; 2 x 6-packs bao buns; 1 cucumber, thinly sliced; 2 red chillies, thinly sliced; 4 spring onions, trimmed and sliced into thin batons

Created by The Tesco Recipes team

Fill fluffy bao buns with sweet and sticky glazed hoisin aubergine. Bursting with bold and complex Chinese flavours, these delightful bites make great party food (they're vegan-friendly) or an interesting snack, lunch or even breakfast!

See method

Makes 12
Takes 25 mins
141 calories / serving

Shop your ingredients

Tesco Aubergine Each
This product's currently out of stock
Aldi Price Match
3 aubergines, trimmed and cut into 2cm rounds
Tesco Pure Vegetable Oil 1L
Aldi Price Match
2 tbsp vegetable oil
£1.45
£1.45/litre
Tesco Cornflour 500G
1 tsp cornflour
£2.55
£5.10/kg
Tesco Hoisin Dipping Sauce 320g
80ml hoisin dipping sauce
£2.40
£7.50/kg
Tesco Rice Wine Vinegar 150Ml
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
£2.25
£15.00/litre
Tesco Reduced Salt Soy Sauce 150Ml
1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce
£0.55
£3.67/litre
Tesco Chinese 5 Spice 34G
Any 4 for 3 Clubcard Price - Cheapest Product Free - Selected Cooking Ingredients
Offer valid for delivery from 29/09/2026 until 26/10/2026
½ tsp Chinese five spice
£1.00
£29.41/kg
Tesco Sesame Seeds 100G
Any 4 for 3 Clubcard Price - Cheapest Product Free - Selected Dried Fruit Nuts And Seeds
Offer valid for delivery from 30/09/2026 until 26/10/2026
2 tsp sesame seeds
£1.20
£12.00/kg
Tesco Root Ginger Loose
3cm piece fresh ginger, finely grated
£0.56
£5.60/kg
Tesco Large Garlic
1 garlic clove, finely crushed
£0.50
£0.50/each
Tesco Light Brown Soft Sugar 500g
1 tbsp light brown soft sugar
£2.00
£4.00/kg
Tesco Bao Buns 6 Pack 168g
2 x 6-packs bao buns
£2.35
£13.99/kg
Tesco Baby Cucumbers 200G
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
£1.10
£5.50/kg
Tesco Red Chillies 60G
Aldi Price Match
2 red chillies, thinly sliced
£0.51
£8.50/kg
Tesco Bunched Spring Onions 100G
49p Clubcard Price
(£4.90/kg)
Offer valid for delivery from 08/09/2026 until 05/10/2026
4 spring onions, trimmed and sliced into thin batons
£0.69
£6.90/kg

Method

Preheat the grill to high. Toss the aubergines in the oil to evenly coat, arrange in a single layer on a baking tray, then grill for 5-6 mins each side until lightly charred and starting to soften.
Meanwhile, whisk together the cornflour, hoisin sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, five spice, 1 tsp sesame seeds, the ginger, garlic and sugar in a saucepan until smooth. Heat over a medium heat, stirring continuously, until you have a smooth, glossy sauce thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
Brush the glaze over the aubergine, then grill for another 2-3 mins until bubbling. Carefully turn over and repeat on the other side, leaving a quarter of the sauce for the buns.
Warm the buns to pack instructions. Spread the remaining sauce in each bun and fill with the sticky aubergine, cucumber, chillies and spring onions. Scatter with the remaining 1 tsp sesame seeds to serve.