ALOO BAINGAN




Ingredients :
6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 cup / 125 ml vegetable oil 2 onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped Thumb-size piece ginger, peeled and grated
2 tbsp fennel seeds
1 red chili pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
1 tsp curcuma (turmeric) 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp tomato paste (puree)
2 large eggplants (aubergines), diced Salt and pepper
To garnish: 3 tbsp oil
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced 1 tbsp chopped cilantro (coriander)

Method :
Prep and cook time: 45 min
1.     Boil the potatoes in salted water until just tender. Drain well and set aside.
2.     Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wide pan and cook the onions very gently until soft but not brown.
3.     Add the garlic, ginger, fennel seeds, chili, curcuma (turmeric) and coriander and cook for 2 minutes.
4.     Stir in the sugar and tomato paste (puree) then add the eggplant (aubergine) and about a cup
5.     (250 ml) of water. Season with salt and pepper and simmer very gently, stirring from time to time, for 20 minutes or until the eggplant is very soft then mash with a fork.
6.     Meanwhile, heat the oil for the garnish in a skillet and fry the bell peppers for 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
7.     Add the cooked potatoes to the eggplant sauce, cook for 5 more minutes then serve garnished with the bell pepper and cilantro (coriander) leaves.