Raymond Blanc Harissa Aubergine Food

HARISSA AUBERGINE

Steps:

• Halve the aubergine lengthways and score the flesh with a small sharp knife in a criss-cross pattern, being careful not to cut through the skin. In a small bowl mix the harissa, maple syrup, lemon juice and some seasoning.
• Brush skin side of the aubergines with the oil, then brush the flesh with half the harissa mixture. Barbecue skin-side down over medium heat for 10min, until the skin is charred and the flesh is tender.
• Brush the flesh side with the remaining harissa, then turn and barbecue flesh-side down for 5min until browned. Carefully remove from the grill, using a palette knife or thin-edged spatula if the aubergine sticks a bit to the bars. Sprinkle with the pomegranate and herbs and serve.

SPICY HARISSA AUBERGINE PIE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the aubergines for 10-15 mins until golden and softened. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Fry the onions with the remaining oil for 7-10 mins or until softened. Add the garlic, 1 tbsp of the harissa and the coriander and cook for 1 min more. Return the aubergines to the pan with the tomatoes, lentils, olives and a can of water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins. Season, then stir through the parsley.
• Cook the sweet potatoes in a large pan of boiling lightly salted water for 15 mins. Drain and leave to steam-dry, then mash and stir through the remaining harissa. Spoon the aubergine filling into a large baking dish, scatter over half the feta and spoon over the potatoes. Scatter the remaining feta over the pie.
• Heat the grill to its highest setting. Grill the pie for 7-10 mins or until the top is crisp and golden. To freeze, leave to cool completely before portioning out into small freezerproof containers.

AUBERGINE, HALLOUMI & HARISSA SKILLET BAKE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a roughly 22cm ovenproof skillet or frying pan, then add the aubergine slices in a single layer (you'll need to do this in batches). Cook for 2-3 mins on each side until just golden and softened, adding another 1 tbsp oil between each batch. Transfer to a plate.
• If the pan is dry, add another 1 tbsp oil. Fry the garlic until sizzling but not coloured. Stir in the tomatoes, harissa, sugar and a pinch of salt. Bubble for a minute, squashing the tomatoes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, halve each piece of halloumi (don't worry if they fall apart). Arrange the aubergine and halloumi slices in overlapping concentric circles on top of the tomato mixture, ensuring there are one or two pieces of halloumi between each aubergine slice. Drizzle with a little more oil and sprinkle with the mint. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 mins at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then remove the foil and bake for a further 5-10 mins until the halloumi has started to brown. Serve with warm flatbreads, rice or couscous.

ROAST AUBERGINES WITH YOGURT & HARISSA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/190C fan/gas 6. Pierce the aubergines a few times with the tip of a knife, then brush with olive oil and put them on a baking sheet. Roast for about 40-45 mins, or until the aubergines are completely tender.
• Melt the butter in a pan, then stir through the harissa (see our recipe). Cut the aubergines in half, opening them up a bit like a baked potato. Put them on a warm platter and season the inside of each one, then mix the yogurt with the garlic. Spoon some of this into each aubergine, then drizzle over the spiced butter. Scatter over the coriander and sesame seeds to serve.