Eggplant Aubergine Spinach Curry Food

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) -SPINACH CURRY

Steps:

• Put eggplant cubes in colander over large bowl, sprinkle with kosher salt, and let stand for 30 minutes to sweat. Pat dry and remove excess salt with paper towels or clean dishcloth. (Careful, this juice stains!).
• Toast mustard seeds in a small dry non-stick pan over medium-low heat until they turn grey and begin to pop. Remove from heat and reserve in a small bowl.
• Place eggplant in a mid-sized steamer and cook for about 10 minutes, until eggplant is soft and tender but not mushy. Remove from heat and reserve.
• Heat canola oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden. Stir in garlic, ginger, and all other spices, being careful to avoid scorching.
• After 1 minute, add spinach and tomatoes. Raise heat to high and boil for 2 minutes, stirring often. Turn heat down to low and simmer with lid on for 20 minutes to allow flavours to blend.
• Stir in reserved mustard seeds and eggplant. Once eggplant is hot, stir in yogurt and chopped cilantro. Remove from heat.
• Serve alone on a bed of rice, or with a beef curry and naan bread.

EGGPLANT SPINACH CURRY

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander, sprinkle with coarse salt, and let stand for 30 minutes to sweat. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Place mustard seeds in a small, dry saute pan and cook over moderate heat until they turn gray and start popping. Remove from heat and reserve.
• Heat 1/4 cup clarified butter in a large skillet over moderate heat. Saute eggplant, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden. Remove from heat and reserve in a bowl with mustard seeds.
• Heat remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onions and salt. Saute until onions are golden and soft. Add garlic and ginger, cook just until aromas are released, then stir in all spices. Cook an additional minute, stirring constantly to blend spices and prevent scorching.
• Add tomatoes, water, and sugar. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Add spinach, bring back to a boil, and stir in eggplant mixture. When eggplant is heated through, about 2 minutes, remove from heat and serve.

SRI LANKAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CURRY

Steps:

• Wash the eggplants, remove the stalk, and slice lengthwise into quarters.
• Cut each quarter lengthwise into 1" wide strips and then crosswise into 1" cubes.
• Heat 1-2 inches of peanut oil in a wok to medium-high heat (375F) and deep-fry the eggplant cubes in batches until golden brown (this takes around three to five minutes for each batch, adjusting oil temperature as necessary).
• Drain thoroughly on kitchen paper.
• In a medium-sized pan, heat the extra oil and saute and stir the onion until golden brown.
• Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander and mustard and stir for a couple of seconds before adding the garlic, ginger, chillies and curry leaves.
• Stir and saute for 30 seconds.
• Add the vinegar, coconut milk, salt to taste and the sugar and stir until well mixed.
• Bring slowly to the boil before adding the deep-fried eggplant cubes.
• Stir, then simmer gently on low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Taste and season with a little more sugar and/or salt as desired.

RED LENTIL AND AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) CURRY

Steps:

• Spray pan with oil and cook the onion and garlic until soft.
• Stir in curry powder and cook for a further minute.
• Add aubergine, lentils and stock to the pan.
• Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 30 mins - stir frequently.
• If the lentils are not tender and mushy, boil the curry vigorously for 5 minutes.
• Add salt, coconut milk and coriander.
• Stir and serve.

AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) AND SPINACH TERRINE

Steps:

• Vegan: use water or broth or oil.
• Preheat oven to 375F Cover one end of 4 2 1/2 inch metal muffin rings with plastic wrap to seal.
• Slice the eggplant into four equal rounds. Heat half the oil in in a fry pan and cook the eggplant on both sides until brown. Place themn on a cooking sheet and cook in oven for 10 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
• Heat half the remaining oil and cook the zucchini for two minutes then drain on paper towel. Season with salt,pepper and thyme.
• In the rest of the oil in a heavy frying pan put the tomatoes and basil and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Cook the spinach, garlic and butter in a pan allowing water to evaporate. Drain and add nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Note if making it Vegan you can simply use a bit of water or broth in place of the butter. You want them wilted not "mushed".
• Line the base and sides of muffin tins with spinach leaves leaving no gaps. Place the zucchini around the edges of each ring and overlap them slightly. Divide and place tomato mixture in center. Press it down well. Place eggplant on top, trim edges to fit.
• Seal top with clear plastic and pierce the base to allow liquid to escape. Chill overnight Remove the rings and serve with roastged pepper and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CURRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplants lengthwise and lay cut-side down on a cooking-sprayed pan; bake eggplant halves for 20 to 30 minutes until very soft.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet heat the butter and olive oil over medium high and sauté the onion and garlic together until soft.
• When the eggplant is done, scoop the insides out of the peel and place in a food processor together with the sautéed onion and garlic; whir for 1 minute.
• Place whirred eggplant mixture in a saucepan and add remaining ingredients; stir well and heat over medium high for about 3 to 5 minutes or until tofu is heated through (don't heat for too long or the coconut milk will lose its taste).
• I eat it just as is, but you can serve it over cooked rice; some people like to add chickpeas.
• Note: I highly recommend you use fresh tofu, if you can get it; I purchase it at my local Asian market.

SOUTH INDIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CURRY

Steps:

• In a cast iron or other heavy skillet, roast coconut powder, poppy seeds, sesame seeds and cumin seeds over low heat until light brown.
• Remove from pan to stop the cooking and cool.
• Put this coconut mixture in a food processor and process until it's grainy, reserve in a dish.
• Grind the roasted channa dal in a spice grinder until it is a fine powder and add to the coconut mixture.
• In a food processor, process the peanuts until they are coarsely ground.
• Wash and stem the eggplants.
• Cut each eggplant 2/3 into the wide end up to the stem - making an "X" - leave the stem end intact.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a skillet and cook the eggplants on low until soft.
• In a separate pan, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil to medium hot.
• Add the 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds and 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds to the hot oil.
• In a matter of seconds they will begin to pop - add the onions and stir.
• When the onions are beginning to brown, add the ginger garlic paste and the turmeric, cumin, coriander powder, chili powder and salt.
• Stir the spices into the onion then add the tomatoes.
• Stir in the tomatoes then add the coconut mixture along with the peanuts.
• Add the eggplants and 1 cup of the water.
• Stir and cook over low heat, covered for about 20 minutes.
• Add water a little at a time to maintain a nice smooth consistency.
• Add garam masala and 2 1/2 tablespoons of the chopped fresh coriander - stir.
• Check to see that it is salted to your taste.
• Put in a serving dish and garnish with the remaining chopped coriander.

AUBERGINES FILLED WITH SPINACH & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the aubergine halves and cook for 4-5 mins. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Place the aubergines on a baking tray, brush with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and cook for 20-25 mins until tender and golden. Scoop out the flesh (leaving about 15mm of flesh attached to the skin), then roughly chop.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan, then cook the onion and garlic for 4-5 mins until the onion has softened. Add the aubergine flesh to the pan and fry for a few mins, add the mushrooms, then cook for about 5 mins until browned and tender. Add the spinach and cook for 3-4 mins until wilted, stirring frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, fromage frais and seasoning to taste.
• In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, pine nuts, parsley and seasoning.
• Spoon the spinach mixture into the aubergine halves and sprinkle the top of each with the breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for 10-15 mins until the topping is golden.