• Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 4 cups vegetable mixture
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Remember water chestnuts from chow mein when you were a kid? Those crunchy veggies are making a comeback in this spicy stir-fry, which also features juicy tomatoes, fork-tender eggplant, and spicy jalapeño chiles.

Tip: Chile peppers contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them.

By Nancy Macklin, RDN,

Ingredients

  • ½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure cane sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
  • 1 teaspoon. reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 cups ¾-inch cubed eggplant
  • 1 cup sliced leeks
  • 1 fresh jalapeño chile, sliced (see tip in recipe intro)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups broccoli rabe, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 8-oz. can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups hot cooked wheat berries
  • Crushed red pepper

Instructions

  • For sauce, in a small bowl combine the first seven ingredients (through soy sauce) and ¼ cup water. Mix well.
  • In a large wok or extra-large skillet cook and stir eggplant, leeks, jalapeño, and garlic over high 5 minutes, adding water, 1 to 2 Tbsp. at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add broccoli rabe, tomatoes, and water chestnuts; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until broccoli rabe is just starting to get tender.
  • Stir sauce and add to wok. Mix well; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Serve over wheat berries and sprinkle with crushed red pepper.

Comments (7)

(5 from 3 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Jet

Can you please add this recipe to the app?

Danielle Mason

What is the best way to cook wheat berries? Thanks

Alexandria Scott

I made this for lunch and my family loved it. The sauce was thin at first but then thickened a bit, which I expected. I made double the amount of sauce and added onions. Thank you for an easy, yummy recipe.

Rebecca Wardlow

Another fabulous recipe I have made twice. I could not find the broccoli rabe, but used spinach the first time and broccoli the second.

Ken Galloway

This is Australia not America, whats wheat berries? Whats broccoli rabe Whats a red pepper?

Kathleen

Wheat berries are the whole wheat grain from which flour is ground. You could serve this with any cooked whole grain: brown rice, quinoa, etc. Broccoli rabe is also known broccoli raab or rapini. It's a cousin to broccoli. You could substitute broccoli florets for it if desired. A red pepper is a red capsicum. (Sweet/not hot capsicums are called "bell pepper" or "green/red/yellow pepper" in the U.S.) Hope that helps!

Nancy Marcy

Crushed red pepper flakes are hot. Found in the spice section. Like Cayenne, before it's ground up. Not the same thing as a red bell pepper at all!

About the Author

Headshot of Nancy Macklin

About the Author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.
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