Creamy Coconut Dal with Spicy Pickled Aubergine

Directions

  1. 1Blend garlic cloves with ginger, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, fenugreek, sea salt, green chillies, bullet chillies and the apple cider vinegar until a smooth paste is formed.
  2. 2Heat oil in a pan and add the curry leaves and sliced garlic.
  3. 3Sauté the curry leaves and sliced garlic until fragrant.
  4. 4Pour in the blended mixture into the pan.
  5. 5Add turmeric and smoked chilli powder (or regular chilli powder) and agave.
  6. 6Stir until a smooth paste is achieved.
  7. 7In a separate frying pan, add the chopped aubergine.
  8. 8Fry the aubergine until golden brown, soft, and slightly crispy on the edges.
  9. 9Drain the oil from the cooked aubergine.
  10. 10Stir the aubergine into the sauce until fully coated.
  11. 11Thoroughly rinse the red lentils until the water runs clear.
  12. 12Add the rinsed lentils to a pot and bring to a boil.
  13. 13Add the diced onion to the pot with the lentils.
  14. 14Allow the lentils and onion to cook and soften.
  15. 15Add the spices and coconut milk to the dal.
  16. 16Stir the dal.
  17. 17Add sea salt to taste to the dal.
  18. 18Cook the dal for a further 5 minutes.
  19. 19Serve and enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 1 aubergine, cubed
  • 3 garlic cloves, whole
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 3 green chillies
  • 2 bullet chillies
  • 0.5 tsp fenugreek
  • 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 5 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp agave or brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 4 curry leaves
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1 tsp smoked chilli powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 3 cups water
  • 0.5 can coconut milk
  • 1 diced onion
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 0.5 tsp cardamom
  • 0.25 tsp cinnamon
  • to taste sea salt

Equipment

coffee grinderblenderhand blenderpanfrying panpot

Tips

  • Use a coffee grinder for blending the paste if a regular or hand blender isn't available.
  • Add more vinegar if needed when blending the paste.
  • Drain the oil from the aubergine once cooked.