Aubergine Daal Recipes

AUBERGINE DAAL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4.
• Cut the aubergine into 2cm chunks, peel and slice the onions and garlic, peel and finely grate the ginger.
• Put all this into a large high-sided roasting tray with the curry paste and a lug of groundnut oil. Toss together until well coated, then roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sticky and caramelized.
• Remove half the roasted veg to a large pan to start your daal and return the tray to the oven to keep warm - turn the oven off so that the veg don't dry out.
• Place the pan on a low heat on the hob. Stir in the split peas, crumble in the stock cube and add 2 litres of boiling water.
• Simmer for around 1 hour 20 minutes with the lid on, or until the split peas are tender and the daal has thickened, stirring occasionally, and adding splashes of water to loosen, if needed.
• Meanwhile, place the flour in a large bowl with a pinch of sea salt and make a well in the middle. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 150ml of water to the well and mix together with a fork.
• When it comes together as dough, tip it on to a flour-dusted surface, knead until smooth, then divide into 12 balls. Roll each one into a circle, nice and thin, turning as you go and dusting with a little extra flour, if needed.
• Put a frying pan on a medium heat and cook the chapatis for 1 minute on each side, or until cooked but not coloured. Stack them in tin foil as you go and keep them warm until needed.
• Put 1 mug of rice and 2 mugs of boiling water into a pan with a pinch of salt. Cook on a medium heat with the lid on for 12 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed.
• Meanwhile, to make the flavoured oil (called a temper), finely slice the chilli and place it in a small frying pan on a medium heat with the curry leaves, mustard seeds and a good lug of groundnut oil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until crispy.
• Load up your warm chapatis with rice, daal and a scattering of roasted veggies, drizzle over the temper, roll up and tuck in.

AUBERGINE DHAL WITH TOMATO & ONION RAITA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan and fry the onion, garlic and ginger for 8 mins until softened. Tip in the turmeric, coriander, cumin and chilli and cook for 20 seconds, stirring occasionally.
• Pour in 800ml boiling water, stir in the bouillon, lentils and aubergine, and cover the pan and leave to simmer for 15 mins until the lentils are pulpy. Stir in the chickpeas with their water, if you need a little more liquid, and cook for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, stir the red onion, coriander, mint and tomatoes with the yogurt to make a raita. Spoon the dhal into two bowls, top with raita and scatter with mint leaves.

SWEET & SOUR LENTIL DHAL WITH GRILLED AUBERGINE

Steps:

• Cover the lentils, turmeric and tamarind paste with 500ml water. Add some salt and boil for 15 mins or until very soft. Skim off any foam that forms on the top. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the oil and cook the onion, garlic and ginger until golden, about 5 mins.
• Add the curry powder and cook for a further 2 mins. Pour in the lentil mixture and cook for another 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until very hot. Rub the remaining oil over the aubergine slices and season. Cook for 2-3 mins each side until cooked through and charred. Eat with basmati rice, lime or mango chutney and a sprinkling of coriander, if you like.