Spicy Chickpea And Aubergine Stew Food

AUBERGINE & CHICKPEA STEW

Steps:

• Drain the chickpeas and bring to the boil in a pan of salted water. Cook for 10 mins, then drain.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 10 mins, or until beginning to soften. Stir in the garlic, baharat and cinnamon and cook for 1 min. Tip the onion mixture into a slow cooker and add the chickpeas, parsley stalks, aubergines, tomatoes and a can of water. Season. Cover and cook on high for 2 hrs, then turn the heat to low and cook for 6-8 hrs more until the mixture has reduced slightly and the chickpeas and aubergines are really tender.
• Stir in the lemon juice, then scatter over the pine nuts and parsley leaves. Drizzle over some extra olive oil and serve with pitta breads or flatbreads, if you like.

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!

SPICED CHICKPEA STEW WITH COCONUT AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and starts to brown a little at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and the chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they've started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
• Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides. (This will help thicken the stew.) Add coconut milk and stock, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. (Taste a chickpea or two, not just the liquid, to make sure they have simmered long enough to be as delicious as possible.) If after 30 to 35 minutes, you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you've reached your desired consistency. Determining perfect stew thickness is a personal journey!
• Add greens and stir, making sure they're submerged in the liquid. Cook until they wilt and soften, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you're using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Season again with salt and pepper.
• Divide among bowls and top with mint, reserved chickpeas, a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and a good drizzle of olive oil. Serve alongside yogurt and toasted pita if using; dust the yogurt with turmeric if you'd like.

SPICY CHICKPEA AND AUBERGINE STEW

Steps:

• Gently heat a couple of decent glugs of olive oil in a large pan. Peel and slice 1 and a half large onions into half moons and add to your pan. (Keep the remainder of your onion to one side for the garnish.)
• Peel and crush 3 cloves of garlic and add that to the pan also and give it a stir. Sautee the contents of your pan until the onions soften.
• Add salt, pepper, a good pinch of ground cumin, a sprinkling of ground coriander and chilli flakes. For a more Middle Eastern flavour, you can also add a tiny bit of cinnamon. We do this in winter.
• Now chop 3 aubergines into bite-sized chunks and add to the pan. Stir it all up so the aubergine pieces become coated with the oil and spices and let them cook for a few minutes.
• Roughly chop 4 large summer Turkish tomatoes (or use 3 tins of chopped tomatoes) and add them to the pan.
• Drain the juices from a tin of chickpeas, add to the pan, stir everything up, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until your aubergine goes soft.
• For the Garnish (optional) This topping for your stew is optional but it really does make a difference. It's about the contrast in texture and flavour. Add a little olive oil to a frying pan and get it really hot. Slice your onion into half moons as thinly as possible. Take 2 cloves of garlic, peel and slice those thinly, too. Add to the pan and fry till dark and crispy.
• And to serve... Serve your spicy chickpea and aubergine stew on a bed of Turkish rice or bulgur wheat. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish and then top it all off with your crispy onion and garlic garnish. We also can't resist a side serving of good quality, Turkish süzme yoghurt whilst we're eating this.

GRILLED AUBERGINES WITH SPICY CHICKPEAS & WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until soft and lightly browned, about 10 mins. Add the chilli, ginger and spices and mix well. Stir in the chickpeas, tomatoes and 5 tbsp water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins. Add a little salt and pepper and the lemon juice.
• Arrange the aubergines over a grill pan. Brush lightly with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill until golden. Flip them over, brush again with oil, season and grill again until tender and golden.
• Mix the yogurt with the garlic, most of the walnuts and coriander and a little salt and pepper. Arrange the aubergine slices over a warm platter and spoon over the chickpea mix. Drizzle with the walnut sauce and scatter with the remaining walnuts and coriander.

AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT), COURGETTE AND CHICKPEA STEW

Steps:

• Cut the top off and wash the aubergines. Prick them with a fork and microwave on high for 5 minutes each.
• Fry the onions, garlic and chili in the oil for a few minutes.
• Add the spices and continue to fry.
• Add the courgettes and chickpeas.
• Chop the baked aubergine and add.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and stock and season as required.
• Bring to the boil and then simmer for around 15 minutes.
• Serve with crusty bread, rice, bulghar wheat--whatever you want and enjoy!