Name: Eggplant and chickpeas with minted couscous
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 onion, coarsely chopped; 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped; 2 tbsp tagine spice blend (see note); 450 gm eggplant, cut into 2cm pieces (about 1); 400 gm canned whole peeled tomatoes; 400 gm canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed; To serve: thick natural yoghurt; Minted couscous; 300 gm couscous (1½ cups); 40 gm currants (¼ cup); 1 lemon, finely grated rind and juice only; 20 gm butter, coarsely chopped; ½ cup (loosely packed) mint leaves; 20 gm flaked almonds, toasted (¼ cup)

Eggplant and chickpeas with minted couscous

Australian Gourmet Traveller fast Middle Eastern recipe for eggplant and chickpeas with minted couscous

Serves 4

Prep

10M

Cook

17M

Total

27M

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion, coarsely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp tagine spice blend (see note)

450 gm eggplant, cut into 2cm pieces (about 1)

400 gm canned whole peeled tomatoes

400 gm canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

To serve: thick natural yoghurt

Minted couscous

300 gm couscous (1½ cups)

40 gm currants (¼ cup)

1 lemon, finely grated rind and juice only

20 gm butter, coarsely chopped

½ cup (loosely packed) mint leaves

20 gm flaked almonds, toasted (¼ cup)

Method

Main

1.Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat, add onion, garlic and tagine spice blend and cook until onion starts to soften (about 5 minutes). Add eggplant and 1 cup water, season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, cover and cook until eggplant is soft (about 10 minutes). Add tomato, breaking up with a spoon, and chickpeas. Cook uncovered for another 2 minutes to heat through.

2.Meanwhile, combine couscous, currants and lemon rind in a bowl. Pour over 1½ cups boiling water, cover with plastic wrap and stand until water is absorbed and couscous is tender (about 5 minutes). Add butter, then fluff grains using a fork. Add mint leaves, almonds and season to taste with lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve couscous with spiced eggplant and yoghurt to the side.

Tagine spice blend is made up of cumin, coriander, white pepper and a dash of cinnamon. It’s available from
or you can substitute with any good Moroccan spice mix.
Notes