Sichuan Eggplant - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs Japanese eggplants
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar, unseasoned
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup garlic, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, sliced (including tops)
chives (to garnish, snipped)
slivered green onion top (to garnish)

Preparation

Cut ends from eggplants and cut crosswise into slices about 1/2 inch thick. then cut slices into half circles and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, and chile with 1/2 cup water and stir to mix well; set aside.
Place a wok, large saute pan, or large, heavy skillet over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. When the oil is hot but not yet smoking, add the eggplant and garlic, quickly toss to coat with oil, and stir-fry, moving the pan off and on the heat as necessary to prevent scorching, until the eggplant is very tender but not falling apart, about 5 minutes. Stir the reserved soy sauce mixture to recombine, then stir it into the eggplant. Add the sliced green onions and stir until the sauce thickens, about 30 seconds.
Transfer to a serving platter or bowl, sprinkle with chives or green onion tops and serve warm.