Thursday 15 September 2011

Spicy aubergines


I tried to avoid the thought that the autumn is coming. In my memories I still go back to sunny and warm Italy. For the last two days we had really strong wind in Dales, it was quite cold and wet and also the nights are coming in so therefore more than usually I drink hot tea with lemon and Polish honey I brought back from home. 

Even when I got over the first signs of autumns depression it was not that easy to write another post. It is not easy to type when you have cats walking across the keyboard. No, it is not good (or shall I say bad) old Buka going mad and Mimi doesn’t change her preferences too. It is our new kitten that we hope is a boy. For a time being we have two names under consideration: Marlon or Marla. 

We chose those names to pay the tribute to some film characters and they both were truly distinctive, charismatic people, and looking at our new cat and his (her?) behavior we could not choose more appropriate names.  Seven weeks old hyperactive kitten is very demanding and looking after him is very time consuming, so I am little bit tired recently. As much as I am bitten, scratched, sleepy and I make uncontrolled cries when he decides to climb my leg. I am also very, very happy. Eating, cooking at the moment is little bit less important. I cook mostly dishes that I know well, preferably one-pot. This is one of those, my favourite from "The Food of India: a journey for food lovers". I did not stick to the exact quantities.  

Serves 2-4 

2 medium aubergines, halved lengthways and then sliced into about 7mm slices  
5 tbsp of sunflower oil or ghee (clarified butter) 
400ml skinned, chopped fresh tomatoes (or tinned)  
5 garlic cloves, peeled  
about 2,5cm fresh ginger root, peeled
1 tsp black onion seeds (nigella seeds, kalonji)  
1 tsp fennel seeds  
1 tsp ground coriander  
1/4 tsp of turmeric  
1/4 tsp cayenne 
salt

Blend half of the tomatoes with garlic and ginger until smooth. 

In a large pan heat one tbsp butter at time and fry the aubergines in one layer, on both sides until slightly browned. Place fried aubergines in a bowl and set aside. Heat the remaining butter in the same pan. 

Add black onion seeds, fennel seeds, cover and leave it to pop for about minute. Next add the turmeric, coriander, cayenne, mixed tomatoes and the remaining ones. Be careful as it will spit. Add the aubergines, some salt and cover. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes. 

They are great on their own, but will go nicely with naan bread, some mango chutney on the side. I also serve them as one of many dishes along curries and others when I host Indian dinner. 

And please, let me introduce new remember of our crew: 

8 comments:

  1. Nic nie rozumiem ale danie wygląda super :) i Kocio jaki sliczny :-) Pozdrawiam...

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  2. Evito, zapraszam na polska wersje. :) Pozdrawiam, a kocio dziekuje za komplement. ;)

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  3. Hi Karolina! Mmmm. The Spicy Aubergines look delicious. And I love the cat's name. Is that a scene from "On the Waterfront"? Great actor. His tour de force was in the Godfather. You should write more about your childhood in Italy sometime. I'd love to read about it. Take care. Great post.

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  4. Hello there,
    Although I'm not a fan of aubergines, your dish looks absolutely scrumptious! I might even try it in a next few days...


    p.s I'm not a fan as I think aubergine absorbs fat easily and they seem to me a bit too oily... or maybe it's just me... the only fat I use in my kitchen is olive oil... but I love your mix of spices...

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  5. Faceless Food, I hoped that you will like it! :)

    Mario, I am not sure where this picture comes from, it must be one of his first films, so probably you are right. I absolutely love him in "Apocalipse Now", but I love "Godfather" too. :) He was such a character. I don't get about my childhood in Italy, I was born in Poland. :D

    Emily, I am glad you love it. :) Augergine or cat? ;)

    Daria & Jarek, I hope you will like it. It does absobr a lot of fat, however after frying this veg in batches you can oalways drain it on a paper kitchen roll. Good luck! :)

    Thank you for your comments,

    Love, xxx
    K.

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  6. today was a day of me not knowing what to cook again... Had some aubergines lying in the fridge and decided to make aubergine fritters. I ll post about that 2morrow in my blog.

    The point is now I know a interessting recipe, shared by Karolina with us, to keep my husband still into my food. He loves aubergines, and u guys know how fuzzy men can be...right?!

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  7. I am glad you like it Helene. :) Men can be really fussy, thankfully not mine. ;) Thanks for visiting my blog. :)

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