Steps

1. Cut off the stem of 3 long eggplants (360g), and also trim the tip to increase the edible portion.
   🕒 04:15
2. Make an incision in the long eggplant, like a hot dog bun, without cutting it all the way through.
   🕒 05:18
3. Julienne 6-7 shiso leaves. [Pro Tip!] Remove the stems as they will be used as a garnish.
   🕒 06:00
4. Cut 240g of pork belly into easy-to-eat pieces.
   🕒 06:49
5. Season the cut pork belly with salt and pepper to taste and massage it in.
   🕒 07:26
6. Generously stuff the incised long eggplants with the 240g of pork belly seasoned with salt and pepper.
   🕒 07:41
7. Tightly wrap the pork belly-stuffed long eggplants in parchment paper, candy-style, leaving no gaps. [Pro Tip!] Wrap tightly to prevent the flavors from escaping. If you don't have parchment paper, you can use plastic wrap, but parchment paper is optimal.
   🕒 09:00
8. Arrange the candy-wrapped eggplant dogs on a heat-resistant plate and microwave for 7½ minutes. [Pro Tip!] Since the eggplants are large, use 7½ minutes as a guideline; if they're not cooked enough, microwave for additional time.
   🕒 10:14
9. In a bowl, combine 1½ tbsp soy sauce, 1½ tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp sesame oil, 1½ tsp sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, and 3 dashes of MSG(Ajinomoto) (MSG), and mix well to create the sauce. [Pro Tip!] Make sure to mix thoroughly as sugar can sometimes clump. If you want a spicy kick, add red chili flakes or shichimi togarashi. MSG(Ajinomoto) (MSG) helps to mellow acidity and enhance sweetness. If you don't use MSG(Ajinomoto) (MSG), you can slightly increase the amount of sugar. It can also contribute to a reduction in sodium.
   🕒 10:59
10. Remove the microwaved eggplant dogs from the parchment paper.
    🕒 15:32
11. Drizzle a generous amount of the prepared sauce over the eggplant dogs. [Pro Tip!] The flavor can vary depending on the moisture content of the eggplant, so add the sauce afterwards and adjust to your liking.
    🕒 16:35
12. Garnish the sauced eggplant dogs with the julienned 6-7 shiso leaves and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds to taste to finish.
    🕒 17:09
13. Cut the finished eggplant dogs into easy-to-eat pieces with kitchen shears. [Pro Tip!] The eggplant is so tender that it can be easily cut with scissors.
    🕒 18:17