Cookout Sessions: Charred Aubergine with Miso Maple Butter Recipe

Sam Jones (@NoMeatDisco) is back for Episode 4 of Cookout Sessions, our Passenger celebration of everything the UK summer has to offer.

Episode 4 was filmed at Little Black Cabin, one of Canopy & Stars' spots in Cornwall that's great for a few days out in nature. Watch below as Sam forages, chops and chars his way through another epic veggie recipe - Charred Aubergine with Miso Maple Butter - cooked over a wood fire, outdoors. Nothing beats it.

Cooking Instructions

Prepare the fire:

• Build a wood fire and let it burn down until you have a bed of glowing embers. You want the heat medium-high — hot enough to char but not incinerate.

• Cooking directly in the embers gives the best smoky flavour.
  
  

Char the aubergines:

• Pierce each aubergine a few times with a knife to prevent them from bursting.
• Place the whole aubergines directly in the embers, turning every 5 minutes with tongs.
• Cook for 20-25 minutes until the skins are blackened and blistered, and the flesh is soft and collapsing when you press it.

Pro tip: If you want an even deeper smokiness, cover the aubergines with a few embers while they cook.

Make the miso butter:

• While the aubergines cook, melt the butter in a small pan over the cooler edge of the fire or a low flame.
• Stir in the miso paste, soy sauce, maple syrup, and grated garlic. Let it bubble gently for 2-3 minutes until smooth and combined.

Prep & glaze:

• Once the aubergines are soft, carefully remove them from the embers and let them cool slightly.
• Split them open lengthwise and brush generously with the warm miso butter, letting it soak into the soft flesh.
  
  

Finish & serve:

• Sprinkle it with toasted sesame seeds, sliced spring onions, and a squeeze of lime for brightness.
• Serve straight from the fire with flatbreads, rice, or as part of a bigger outdoor feast.

Loved this Charred Aubergine with Miso Maple Butter Recipe? Follow Sam on Instagram at @NoMeatDisco for more vegan recipes, good tunes, and run club fun, and check out previous episodes of Cookout Sessions below.

A note on cooking outdoors and with open flames:

1. Check whether fires are allowed in the area you've chosen for your cookout session, especially during the summer months.
2. If fires/bbqs are allowed, choose a cooking spot well away from buildings, dry grass and vegetation, and overhanging branches. Make sure you set up on a flat and stable area.
3. Don't leave the grill or oven unattended, and it's always best to have a fire blanket or extinguisher to hand, just in case.
4. Leave No Trace - take your rubbish and waste home with you.