Chef Lee Moon Jung prepares Fried Eggplant Manju on Chef & My Fridge

In the 88th episode of the JTBC variety program 'Chef & My Fridge,' Chef Lee Moon Jung prepares 'Fried Eggplant Manju,' a dish centered around the versatile eggplant. The official video and audio transcripts highlight Lee's specific menu and her detailed cooking process using the vegetable.

Preserving the Eggplant Skin

The menu is introduced as 'Fried Eggplant Manju.' During the episode, the cast discusses how great care was taken to preserve the eggplant skin, which is a key component of the cooking process. The preparation involves microwaving the eggplant before further processing, with the audio confirming the addition of milk and olive oil. The mention of preparing chili oil suggests that the early stages of the broadcast focus on integrating the eggplant with oil and milk.

The cast also engaged in conversation regarding the eggplant's texture. Repeated expressions describing a crispy texture were met with positive reactions from the panelists. These comments reflect the cast's collective appreciation for the dish's texture as they watched the cooking unfold.

Cooking Under Time Constraints

The kitchen environment was high-pressure, with various instructions and confirmations being exchanged between chefs. While automatic transcripts make it difficult to attribute specific commands to individual chefs, the footage captures the frantic energy of multiple cooking stations working simultaneously. Remarks included reminders to flip the meat, confirming the sequence of grinding and cooking ingredients, and calls to speed up the process to meet the deadline.

At another station, the cast speculated about eggplant lasagna and discussed various techniques such as rolling, baking, or steaming the vegetable. As the clock ticked down from 7 minutes to 6 minutes, the intensity increased. Lee's preparation of 'Fried Eggplant Manju' is defined by several distinct steps, including the use of eggplant skin, microwave pre-cooking, and the incorporation of milk, olive oil, and chili oil.