Eggplant And Chickpea Curry Food

EASY GREEK-STYLE EGGPLANT RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place eggplant cubes in a colander over a large bowl or directly over your sink, and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes or so to allow eggplant to "sweat out" any bitterness. Rinse with water and pat dry.
• In a large braiser, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil over medium-high until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, peppers, and chopped carrot. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly, then add garlic, bay leaf, spices, and a dash of salt. Cook another minute, stirring until fragrant.
• Now add eggplant, chopped tomato, chickpeas, and reserved chickpea liquid. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a rolling boil for 10 minutes or so. Stir often. Remove from stove top, cover and transfer to oven.
• Cook in oven for 45 minutes until eggplant is fully cooked through to very tender. (While eggplant is braising, be sure to check once or twice to see if more liquid is needed. If so, remove from oven briefly and stir in about 1/2 cup of water at a time.)
• When eggplant is ready, remove from oven and add a generous drizzle of Private Reserve EVOO, garnish with fresh herbs (parsley or mint). Serve hot or at room temperature with a side of Greek yogurt or even Tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) STEW

Steps:

• Cut off the ends of the eggplant, than chop into ¾" cubes. I salted an eggplant once just for fun, but with fresh eggplant just don't find it necessary!
• Chop the onion roughly.
• Mince the garlic.
• Coat a large deep-sided frypan with olive oil. and heat over a medium heat.
• Add the minced garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin and cinnamon. Stir well to coat evenly. Cook until the onions have softened (approx. 4-5 minutes).
• Add the eggplant, tomatoes and chickpeas, along with the stock. Simmer over medium-low heat, covered, for fifteen-twenty minutes (until the eggplant is tender).
• Uncover and stir. If the stew looks very soupy, let the liquid bubble away for a few more minutes.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve over rice / pasta / cous cous / even toast would be yummy.
• The qty of spice listed make it moderately hot - good for a taste explosion for someone not used to spices. I normally double them as I like things really spicy!

CHICKPEA CURRY

Steps:

• Combine all the spices of the spice mix and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside
• Heat a 12-inch non-stick deep skillet with a lid over medium heat. Add half of the diced eggplant and cook dry without any oil for about 7 minutes stirring occasionally ( you may need to add a couple of tablespoons of water a time to prevent them from sticking if you are not using a no-stick pan).
• Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Repeat the process with the rest of the eggplant and transfer it to the bowl
• Using the same skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and ginger and cook over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Add the onion and spice mix, and cook for 5-6minutes or until translucent
• Add the tomato paste and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring frequently. Add the drained chickpeas, stir gently and continue cooking for 2 to 3minutes
• Add the cooked eggplant and broth or water, bring to a boil, cover the pan and reduce the heat to simmer for 40 minutes Add the cilantro in the last 10 minutes of cooking, saving some for garnish.

EGGPLANT CURRY - SOUTH INDIAN BRINJAL CURRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C / 450°F (220°C fan). Line tray with parchment/baking paper.
• Cut eggplant into 2cm / 4/5" slices, then cut into 2cm / 4/5" batons.
• Place in large bowl, toss with oil, salt and pepper.
• Spread on tray, roast 20 minutes. Turn, roast for a further 10 minutes - edges should be caramelised, soft inside, but they're not shrivelled up and dismal. Use per recipe.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, let them sizzle for 15 seconds.
• Add curry leaves, stir, leave to sizzle for 15 seconds - seeds might pop, Indian cooking is very dramatic!
• Add onions, cook 5 minutes until golden brown.
• Add tomato, cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Add garlic and ginger, cook 2 minutes.
• Add Curry Spices and salt, and cook for another 3 minutes - it will be a thick paste and might stick to the bottom of the pot, don't let it burn (if it starts to, remove from stove and quickly add splash of water to loosen).
• Stir in water, and then add the eggplant.
• Gently stir, partially cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. Stir carefully once or twice (so the eggplants don't break up completely), add more water if it dries out.
• Stir in coconut milk, taste then add more salt if needed.
• Your result should be a very thick, juicy, strongly flavoured curry with eggplant partially intact but half collapsed.
• Serve with basmati rice and a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander leaves, if you want.

CHICKPEAS WITH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Rinse the chickpeas.
• Fry the eggplant cubes in the oil until golden on the outside and tender inside.
• This will take about 10 minutes.
• Remove with a draining spoon.
• If there is no oil left in the pan then add a little more and when it is hot, add the ginger, garlic and chilli and fry for one minute.
• Stir constantly.
• Add the coriander and cumin and cook for 30 seconds, taking care not to burn the spices.
• Add the tomatoes and their juice, chickpeas and water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer.
• Cook for 15 minutes, add the spinach and bring to a boil.
• Cook for a further minute or two until the spinach is tender.
• Stir the eggplant back in, season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) AND CHICKPEA CURRY

Steps:

• Dice onion into small pieces, crush the garlic cloves, grate the ginger and chop the chilies into very small pieces.
• Heat coconut oil in a pan on a medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and chilli and saute for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the rest of the spices and salt to the pan, cook for about 40 seconds until the spices are mixed through the onion, garlic, and chillies.
• Chop eggplant into small cubes. Add the diced eggplant and chickpeas and stir through the spices until evenly coated, add more oil if needed. Cook for about 1 minute.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cover and cook on a low heat for 20 min * See tip above if you have longer then cook for anywhere up to 1.5 hours at a low heat.
• Then add the peanut butter and kale, cook covered under lid for another 10 minutes until kale is cooked.
• Check seasoning and add more to taste if needed.
• Chop the fresh coriander and add to dish to garnish.
• Serve with or without rice.