3 japanese country style eggplant Recipes

japanese eggplants (or 1 large eggplant), vegetable oil, chili pepper flakes , to taste, dried bonito flakes (katsuo-bushi, found in asian grocery stores), soy sauce, mirin (japanese sweet cooking wine, or substitute vermouth with added sugar to taste), water

six 1/2-inch-thick slices country-style bread, extra-virgin olive oil, japanese eggplants , cut into sixteen 1/4-to-1/2-inch-thick rounds, kosher salt, goat cheese, at room temperature (4 oz), zest of 1 large lemon, jarred sun-dried tomatoes, drained, special equipment : 1 3/4-inch round cookie cutter; 8 toothpicks