My Dad's been growing these lovely little aubergines over the summer, so I've been making lots of Mediterranean inspired dishes.
This one has the kick of harissa, the saltiness of the feta, the crunch of the pistachios and the juicy burst of flavour from the pomegranate. A complete taste explosion in your mouth. Lots of fibre and lentils are a great source of plant based protein.
So simple to make - it's all about the marinade and garnish with this dish.
Vegetarian | Easy | Prep 5 -10 minutes | Total cooking time 45-50 minutes approx | Serves 4 depending on portion size
Ingredients :
2 large aubergines, cut in half lengthways
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt,
Fresh ground black pepper
2- 3 tbsp harissa
1.5 tbsp honey
2 lemons
1 tsp sumac
2 small red onions, finely sliced into rings
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tin of brown lentils (make sure they're rinsed)
Large handful flat leaf parsley
A handful of pistachios
A handful of pomegranate seeds
150g of feta crumbled
Method:
Preheat an oven to 200C.
Add the chopped red onions to a bowl, season with salt, sumac and the red wine vinegar. Set aside for them to marinate
Place the aubergines, cut side up onto a lined baking tray and brush with the olive oil
Season with salt and pepper, roast for around 35 minutes.
Mix the harissa, honey, zest and juice of 1 lemon together in a small bowl. Leave to one side.
In another large bowl mix the the lentils, herbs, most of the pistachios and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with the olive oil and the juice of 1 lemon. Toss and season to taste.
When the aubergines have finished cooking, take them out the oven and season with the harissa mix, and return to the oven cooking them for around another further 15 minutes (cooking time depends on the size of the aubergines)
Serve on a large platter - topped with the lentils, feta, onions and add more glaze if required. Season with the rest of the pistachios and pomegranate.
Enjoy :)
Aubergines and their health benefits
Aubergines are rich in nutrients source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, and potassium.They are high in dietary fibre, which can promote digestive health, help maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of constipation.
They contain a powerful phytonutrient called anthocyanin, which give them their deep purple colour. Anthocyanin are antioxidants that have been associated with various health benefits, including reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.