Roasted Aubergine And Red Lentil Dhal Recipes

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.

RED LENTIL & SQUASH DHAL

Steps:

• Put the oil and the onion in a saucepan, and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further 1 min, then stir in the spices and butternut squash. Combine everything together.
• Tip in the chopped tomatoes, stock and chutney, and season well. Bring to the boil, then gently simmer for about 10 mins. Add the lentils and simmer for another 20 mins until the lentils and squash are tender. Stir in the coriander and serve with warmed naan bread.

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.

ROASTED AUBERGINE WITH CHILLI PEANUT DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix the oil with ½ tbsp sweet chilli sauce and 1 tsp soy. Cut the aubergine into wedges lengthways, then transfer to a foil-lined roasting tin. Pour over the sweet chilli mixture and toss. Separate them out so they cook evenly, then roast for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining sweet chilli, soy and the peanut butter. Squeeze in the lime, then add a splash of water and set aside. When the aubergine has 15 mins left, cook the rice following pack instructions, then stir through the chopped coriander and spring onion.
• Pile the rice into a bowl, and top with the aubergine. Drizzle over the peanut sauce, then scatter over the coriander leaves and spring onions.