Roast aubergine & coconut curry
By Diana Henry
Black cardamom is gorgeous with aubergines. It has a distinctive smoky flavour, although it's subtle in this dish
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Prep:20 mins
Cook:45 mins
- Serves 6
- Easy
Nutrition per serving
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kcal 418
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fat 36g
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saturates 30g
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carbs 15g
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sugars 13g
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fibre 6g
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protein 6g
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salt 0.1g
Ingredients
- 800g aubergines (about 3), sliced into rounds, then cut into quarters
- 4 tbsp coconut or olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2cm piece of ginger, grated to a pulp
- 3 garlic cloves, grated to a pulp
- 2 red chillies, halved, deseeded and chopped
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 4 black cardamom pods, crushed a little (but not so much that the pods open)
- 6 large plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 3 x 160ml cans of coconut cream
- juice ½ lime
- small bunch coriander, leaves only
- rice or naan breads, to serve
Method
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Spread out the aubergine in a roasting tin (you may need to use two) and drizzle with 3 tbsp of the oil. Turn the pieces over with your hands and season. Roast for 15-20 mins, tossing them halfway through cooking, or until they are dark golden and soft.
Heat the rest of the oil in a flameproof casserole dish and cook the onions over a medium heat until they are soft and pale gold. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli, and cook for another 3 mins, then add the turmeric, coriander and cardamom pods (leave the pods whole). Stir for 1 min, then add the tomatoes and seasoning. Cook over a medium-low heat until the tomatoes begin to soften, stirring, then add the coconut cream, 75ml water and the aubergine.
Bring to just under the boil – if it boils, the coconut cream will split – then turn down to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 30 mins, stirring every so often. Add the lime juice to taste, and check for seasoning. Add a pinch of sugar if it needs it. Stir in the coriander and serve with rice or naan breads. (Inform guests that there are some whole spices in the dish.)
