Salt-and-Pepper Tofu with Braised Eggplant

Ingredients

• Tofu
• 900 gm silken tofu
• 100 gm plain flour (2/3 cup)
• 50 gm cornflour (1/3 cup)
• 1 tbsp finely ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
• For deep-frying: vegetable oil
• To serve: boiled rice
• Braised eggplant
• 1 kg eggplant (about 3)
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
• 80 ml light soy sauce (1/3 cup)
• 2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
• 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
• ½ tsp sesame oil