Baked Aubergine With Couscous Food

INCREDIBLE SICILIAN AUBERGINE STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Trim and cut the aubergine into large chunks. Heat a couple of lugs of olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat, add the aubergine, oregano and a little sea salt, then toss to coat.
• Turn the heat up to high and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, giving the pan a shake every now and then.
• While that's ticking away, peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Pick and chop the parsley leaves and finely chop the stalks, then roughly chop the tomatoes.
• When the aubergine is golden all over, add the onion, garlic and parsley stalks, then cook for a further 2 minutes - if the aubergine gets too dry, add a little more oil to the pan.
• Drain and add the capers, destone and add the olives, then drizzle over the vinegar.
• When all the vinegar has evaporated, add the tomatoes and simmer for around 15 minutes, or until the aubergine is tender.
• Put the couscous into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and just cover with boiling water, then pop a plate on top and leave to fluff up.
• Lightly toast the almonds in a dry pan over a medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden, keeping them moving.
• Use a fork to fluff up the couscous and stir through half the chopped parsley.
• Season the stew to taste, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• Serve the stew with the couscous and sprinkle with the almonds and remaining parsley.

MOROCCAN VEGETABLES WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Cut the aubergines in half from top to bottom and score in a criss-cross pattern through the flesh. Place on a small baking tray and spray with oil. Season with a little black pepper and bake for 30-40 minutes or until very tender and lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, spray a large non-stick frying pan with oil and place over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for five minutes, stirring regularly until softened and lightly browned. Add the cumin, coriander, chilli and cinnamon and cook for a few seconds, stirring constantly.
• Pour the tomatoes into the pan. Add the pepper, courgette, chickpeas, coriander and stock. Season with a little salt and lots of ground black pepper and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender and the sauce is thick.
• Just before the sauce is ready, make the couscous. Dissolve the stock cube in 100ml/3½fl oz just-boiled water in a medium bowl. Stir in the couscous, cover and rest for three minutes. Add the lemon zest, coriander and season to taste. Toss well together, using a fork to break up the clumps of couscous.
• Divide the aubergines between four plates. Stir the lemon juice into the chickpeas and season to taste. Spoon the spiced chickpeas over the aubergines. Add the couscous and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Garnish with coriander and yoghurt.

MISO AUBERGINES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. With a sharp knife, criss-cross the flesh of the aubergines in a diagonal pattern, then place on a baking tray. Brush the flesh with 1 tbsp vegetable oil.
• Mix the miso with 25ml water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste over the aubergines, then cover the tray with foil and roast in the centre of the oven for 30 mins.
• Remove the foil and roast the aubergines for a further 15-20 mins, depending on their size, until tender.
• Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and heat ½ tbsp vegetable oil over a medium-high heat in a frying pan. Add the couscous to the frying pan, toast for 2 mins until golden brown, then tip into the pan of boiling water and cook for 8-10 mins until tender (or following pack instructions). Drain well. Serve the aubergines with the couscous, topped with the chilli and a scattering of coriander leaves.

AUBERGINE COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Put the aubergine on a baking sheet, brush with oil and season. Grill for about 15 mins, turning and brushing with more oil halfway, until browned and softened.
• Meanwhile, tip the couscous into a large bowl, pour over the stock, then cover and leave for 10 mins. Mix the tomatoes, mint, goat's cheese and remaining oil together. Fluff the couscous up with a fork, then stir in the aubergines, tomato mixture and lemon juice.

BAKED AUBERGINES WITH CORIANDER YOGURT DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Leaving the stem on, cut the aubergine in half lengthways and score the flesh deeply with a sharp knife in a criss-cross fashion. Place in a shallow baking dish. Mix the olive oil and lemon juice then brush over the scored surface of the aubergine. Season with freshly ground black pepper and bake uncovered for 25-30 mins, until the flesh is tender.
• Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large bowl, pour over the boiling stock and leave to soak for 10 mins until all the stock is absorbed. Fluff up with a fork, then stir the apricots, tomatoes, spring onions and pine nuts into the couscous. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and toss well together.
• Remove the aubergine from the oven and scoop out the flesh, taking care to keep the skins intact. Chop the flesh and toss into the couscous mixture. Place the aubergine skins back in the baking dish and spoon the couscous mix into them, piling it up to hold a generous amount in each. Scatter any left over couscous mix around the edge of the dish.
• Return to the oven for 10 mins to heat through while you mix all the dressing ingredients together - add a drop of water if the dressing is too thick. To serve, heap the loose couscous mix under the stuffed aubergines so they're propped up on a slant. Drizzle over dressing and serve with mixed leaf salad.

LEMON & MINT AUBERGINE TAGINE WITH ALMOND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan and fry the onion and garlic for 5 mins. Stir in the harissa, cumin and cinnamon, cook briefly, then tip in the stock and tomatoes.
• Add the aubergines and lemon, then cover the pan and cook gently for 15-20 mins until the aubergines are meltingly tender. Add the butter beans and warm through.
• Meanwhile, cook the couscous following pack instructions, then stir in the almonds. Serve the aubergine tagine on the couscous with the yogurt drizzled over, and garnish with mint leaves, if you like.

COUSCOUS WITH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the shallots, onions, turmeric, coriander, eggplant, salt and pepper.
• Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until wilted, but do not brown.
• Add the water, bring to a boil, add the couscous and blend well.
• Cover tightly, remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add the butter and lemon juice, stir and blend with a fork to separate the grains.
• Keep warm.

SPICED AUBERGINE BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Generously brush each aubergine slice with vegetable oil and place in a single layer on a baking tray, or two if they don't fit on one. Cook on the low shelves for 10 mins, then turn over and cook for a further 5-10 mins until they are golden. Reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan and add the onions. Cover and sweat on a low heat for about 5 mins until softened. Add the garlic, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, garam masala, chilli powder, cinnamon stick, cumin and ground coriander. Cook for a few secs until it starts to smell beautiful and aromatic.
• Pour the chopped tomatoes and coconut milk into the spiced onions and stir well. Check the seasoning and add a little sugar, salt or pepper to taste.
• Spoon a third of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Layer with half the aubergine slices. Spoon over a further third of tomato sauce, then the remaining aubergine slices, and finish with the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle over the flaked almonds and coriander (if using), reserving some to serve, and bake for 25-30 mins. Serve garnished with more coriander.

AUBERGINE MELTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Drizzle the oil over the aubergine and bake in the oven for 25 mins until softened. Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes and mozzarella, then arrange on top of the aubergine. Return to oven for another 5 mins or until the cheese has melted. Scatter over some basil leaves. Serve with couscous and green salad.