Roasted Aubergine and Red Lentil Dhal
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 4
Ingredients
For the roasted aubergines
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium aubergine diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the red lentil dhal
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium aubergine diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes (or to taste, or 1 fresh red chilli, diced)
- 3 garlic cloves grated or crushed
- 3 cm fresh ginger grated
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 200 g red lentils
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 800 ml water (i.e. 2 empty tomato tins of water)
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh coriander optional
To serve…
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium aubergine diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes (or to taste, or 1 fresh red chilli, diced)
- 3 garlic cloves grated or crushed
- 3 cm fresh ginger grated
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 200 g red lentils
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 800 ml water (i.e. 2 empty tomato tins of water)
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh coriander optional
- Brown rice (or white rice, chapattis, naan breads or pilau rice)
- Extra fresh coriander (cilantro) optional
- All your favourite pickles and chutneys optional
Method
- STEP 1Preheat your oven to 220C / 200C fan / gas mark 7 / 425F.
- STEP 2Place the diced aubergine in a single layer on a large non-stick baking sheet. Drizzle over the olive oil and scatter over the salt and cumin. Use your hands to mix everything together and rearrange as a single layer. Place in your preheated oven for 20 minutes – turning once to prevent sticking.
- STEP 3Meanwhile, put the onions and olive oil in a deep, wide pan and cook the onions over a low heat with the lid on for 5 minutes, or until softened but not brown. Stir occasionally.
- STEP 4Add the chilli, garlic, ginger, turmeric and garam masala and cook over a gentle head for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pan gets too dry add a splash of cold water.
- STEP 5Add the lentils, chopped tomatoes, water and black pepper. Stir and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and cook for 30 minutes (with the lid on). Check on the dhal occasionally and add extra water if necessary.
- STEP 6When the dhal is cooked, stir in the fresh coriander and roasted aubergine – saving a few pieces for garnish (or not if you’d rather hide the fact that there are aubergines in this curry!!).
- STEP 7Serve scattered with a few pieces of aubergine and some extra fresh coriander
