Tao Jiew-Glazed Smoked Eggplant

Vegetables should get more love on the smoker. Eggplant in particular is amazing when smoked. The tao jiew—Thai fermented soybean paste—gives these eggplant halves a deeply savory, funky, and misolike flavor profile that can compete with any meat out there. The smoking process imparts a subtle smokiness that permeates the eggplant’s flesh, creating a tender, almost creamy texture that contrasts beautifully with the intense savoriness of the tao jiew glaze. This dish is a testament to the tr