Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, divided
• 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 fresh red or green Thai chiles, thinly sliced crosswise, divided
• 1 1" piece ginger, peeled, cut into matchstick-size pieces
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 pound baby or Asian eggplant, sliced into 1/4" rounds
• 1/2 pound beef eye round, cut into thin strips
• Softened rice vermicelli noodles or steamed brown rice
• Ingredient info: Fish sauce can be found in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets, at some specialty foods stores, and at Asian markets.

Instructions

1. Whisk 2 tablespoons mint, soy sauce, 1 chile, half of ginger, fish sauce, lime juice, 1 teaspoon garlic, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water in a medium bowl. Set dressing aside.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in 2 batches and adding 2 tablespoons oil between batches, cook eggplant until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant slices to a medium bowl. Pour half of dressing over eggplant and toss to coat evenly. Set remaining dressing aside.
3. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining chile, ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic, and beef and cook, turning beef once, until nicely seared and medium-rare, about 3 minutes total. Add eggplant mixture (with liquid) to skillet and toss to mix well.
4. Divide noodles or rice among bowls. Spoon stir-fry over. Drizzle reserved dressing over stir-fry and garnish with remaining 2 tablespoons chopped mint.