Week 5 recipe - Spicy chickpea and eggplant stew

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3 large eggplant, cubed
• 1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 3 * 14 ounce cans chopped tomatoes (about 10 fresh tomatoes)
• salt and freshly ground pepper

For the garnish

• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, sliced
• sprigs of cilantro

1. Place the eggplant in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Set the colander in a bowl and let sit for 30 mts to allow the bitter juices to escape. Rinse and dry.
2. Boil the chickpeas till tender. Drain.
3. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add garlic and onion and cook until soft. Add the spices and cook, stirring for a few seconds. Stir in the eggplant and cook for 5 mts. Add the tomatoes and chickpeas and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 20 mts.
4. To make the garnish, heat the oil in a frying pan and when very hot, add the onion and garlic. Fry until golden and crisp. Serve the stew with rice, topped with the garnish. 

Can also have this dish with rotis. Add some chilli paste to make it spicier. 

Cauliflower and chickpea curry

Recipe from Good Housekeeping

Made this when ma and pa were here. Came out well. 

1 cauliflower
1 large onion, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp vegetable oil
salt to taste
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed or soak about a cup of chickpeas overnight and pressure cook the next day
2 handfuls spinach, chopped
2 tbsp mango chutney (I didn't use this)
large handful fresh coriander, finely chopped
almonds, toasted and sliced

Bring a large pan of water to a boil and cook the cauliflower florets for 5 mts or until tender. Drain well and keep aside.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and gently cook the onion for 10 mts. until softened. Turn up the heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden brown. Stir in the garlic, garam masala and cumin. Cook for a further 2 mts, then stir in the coconut milk, 200 ml water, salt, the chickpeas and cauliflower.
Heat until piping hot, then stir through the spinach, mango chutney and most of the coriander. Check the seasoning.
Garnish with remaining coriander and almonds.
Serve with rice, naan or crusty bread.