Name: Yotam Ottolenghi's stuffed aubergine in curry and coconut dal
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Bake
Ingredients: 3 large aubergines stalks removed, cut lengthways into 6 by 1/2cm thick slices; 3 tbsp olive oil; 220 g paneer (or extra-firm tofu) roughly grated; 2 limes 1 tsp lime zest and 2 tbsp lime juice; 45 g hot mango pickle (or hot mango atchar) roughly chopped, plus extra to serve; 5 g fresh coriander roughly chopped, plus extra to serve; 100 g spinach leaves large in size, stems removed; salt and black pepper; 3 tbsp olive oil; 5 banana shallots peeled and finely chopped; 45 g fresh ginger peeled and finely chopped; 2 red chillies finely chopped; 30 g fresh curry leaves; 1 tsp black mustard seeds; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp ground turmeric; 2 tsp curry medium powder; 2 tsp tomato paste; 100 g dried red lentils; 400 ml coconut milk

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Ingredients (21)

STUFFED AUBERGINE

3	large aubergines — stalks removed, cut lengthways into 6 by 1/2cm thick slices
3 tbsp	olive oil
220 g	paneer — (or extra-firm tofu) roughly grated
2	limes — 1 tsp lime zest and 2 tbsp lime juice
45 g	hot mango pickle — (or hot mango atchar) roughly chopped, plus extra to serve
5 g	fresh coriander — roughly chopped, plus extra to serve
100 g	spinach leaves — large in size, stems removed
	salt and black pepper

COCONUT DAL

3 tbsp	olive oil
5	banana shallots — peeled and finely chopped
45 g	fresh ginger — peeled and finely chopped
2	red chillies — finely chopped
30 g	fresh curry leaves
1 tsp	black mustard seeds
1 tsp	ground cumin
1 tsp	ground coriander
1/2 tsp	ground turmeric
2 tsp	curry medium powder
2 tsp	tomato paste
100 g	dried red lentils
400 ml	coconut milk

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Method:

Heat the oven to 220°C on the fan setting.

For the stuffed aubergines:

In a large bowl, toss the aubergines together with the oil, ¾ teaspoon of salt and a good grind of black pepper.

Spread out on two parchment-lined baking trays and bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway, until softened and lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

For the coconut dal:

Put 2 tablespoons of the oil into a large sauté pan on a medium-high heat. Once hot, add the shallots and fry for 8 minutes, until golden.

Add the ginger, half the chilli and half the curry leaves (if using). Cook for 2 minutes, then add the spices, tomato paste and lentils.

Stir for a minute then add the coconut milk, 600ml of water and ¾ teaspoon of salt. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to medium and leave to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring once in a while, until the lentils are soft and the sauce is thick.

Pour into a medium baking dish, around 28cm x 18cm, if making the aubergine rolls, and set aside.

In a small bowl, toss together the paneer, lime zest, mango pickle, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, the coriander and ⅛ teaspoon of salt.

To assemble:

Place one spinach leaf on top of each slice of aubergine. Put a heaped teaspoon of the paneer mixture in the middle then roll up the aubergine – from the thinner end at the top down to the thicker bottom end, so the filling is encased.

Put the aubergine roll seam-side-down in the lentil sauce and repeat with the remaining aubergine slices, spinach and paneer. You should end up with about 18 rolls, all sitting snugly in the sauce.

Press the rolls gently into the sauce, but not so far that they are submerged. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until the aubergine is golden-brown on top and the sauce is bubbling.

Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 5 minutes.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a small pan on a medium-high heat. Add the remaining chilli and curry leaves and fry for a minute, until the curry leaves are crisp and fragrant.

Spoon over the aubergine rolls, drizzle over the lime juice and serve with the coriander sprinkled on top.

Extracted from Ottolenghi FLAVOUR by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage (Penguin Random House Publishers). Stuffed aubergine in curry and coconut dal photo by Jonathan Lovekin.