Turkish Eggplant Aubergine Lentil Stew Recipes

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!

TURKISH LENTIL AND EGGPLANT STEW

Steps:

• Boil the lentils in 2 cups of water and salt, until partially cooked. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the 1/4 cup olive oil and add in the onion and the garlic and saute for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
• Add in the tomatoes, mint, thyme, red pepper flakes and salt and cook for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and the sauce has begun simmering and thickens slightly.
• Slice the eggplant and place in a colander and sprinkle with the salt and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. This can be done at the beginning if you wish.
• Blot with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
• To assemble, place some of the tomato sauce at the bottom of a heavy bottomed pot (with a tight fitting lid). Add in a layer of the eggplants, drizzle with a little olive oil and add in the lentils. Follow this order ending with the tomato sauce until all the ingredients are used up.
• Top with the pomegranate molasses, drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Cover the pot tightly and cook over low heat for an hour and half.
• Let the stew rest for another 30 minutes or a couple of hours before serving.
• To serve mix in the chopped parsley or mint, garnish with the almonds and serve with crusty bread.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Peel eggplant in strips, then cut lengthwise into strips.
• Cut each strip into 3 pieces, salt heavily with kosher salt and let it sit in a colander for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, cover lentils with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
• Lower to simmer and cook 15 minutes, drain.
• In a bowl add 1 tbsp olive oil and onion, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, mint, tomato paste, and red pepper.
• Rinse the eggplant and dry.
• In a dutch oven layer half of the onion mixture.
• Top with a layer of eggplant, and a layer of lentils.
• Repeat.
• Pour remaining olive oil around sides and over the top.
• Drizzle with the pomegranate molasses.
• Bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook 1 1/2 hours.