The Crafty Aussie: Baked Aubergine

This dish would work well as a hearty lunch or a side to a main meal

35 mins

Serves: 4

81 cal per serving

Gluten free, vegan

Ingredients:

2 large, firm aubergines (about 450g/1 lb in total)
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ginger, crushed
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, coarsely ground
1/2 teaspoon red or green chillies, crushed
1 tablespoon fenugreek leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons coriander stalks and leaves, chopped

Method:

Wash the aubergines, prick all over with a sharp knife and cook in the oven, on a high heat, for 20 minutes.
Heat a saucepan, and add the oil, cumin seeds and onions. Stir continuously until the onions are soft and lightly brown at the edges.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, turmeric, cumin coriander powder, black pepper, chillies and fenugreek, and cook for another 2 minutes.
Scoop out the aubergine pulp and add with the lemon juice and cook for a further 10 minutes on a low heat. Add the chopped coriander. Cook for 1 minute and then serve inside the aubergine skin.

Notes:

I found that the time suggested to cook the eggplant (aubergine) was not sufficient to cook it all the way through. So I was unable to scoop out the inside, and unless you are going to eat the eggplant skin bowl, that just seemed like a heck of a waste of eggplant. So I ended up chopping it all up and throwing it in the pan together with the rest, more like a Ratatouille

I personally found it difficult to find Fenugreek leaves (or even Fenugreek seeds as a substitute, even though they have a different flavour). Instead I substituted Fennel seeds, which would have been alright, but I suggest only using a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon. It's quite an overpowering flavour otherwise.

Aside from this, I found this rather confused in the direction it took with its spice, and plainly unsatisfying as a meal.

Source:

goodtoknow Recipes

Ratings:

Difficulty