Vegan Oven Roasted Spicy Aubergines with Spicy Green Lentils

Friday night is a good excuse for a curry night right? Check out this delicious vegan recipe for some healthy inspiration.

Serves: 4

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 – 60 mins

Ingredients: 1 white or brown onion, 2 large aubergines or 4 baby aubergines, 1 cup of green lentils, 2 cups of coconut milk, 1 veggie stock cube, 1/2 tsp of cumin, 1/2 tsp of turmeric, 1 chopped red chilli and 1/2 tsp of dried ginger, 4 tbsp of oil, 1 tsp. of masala paste.

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 200F
2. Chop your onion and garlic and fry in a pan with 1 tbsp of oil for a few minutes until softened
3. Add all of your dried spices and chilli and coat the onions and garlic well
4. Add the lentils with 2 cups of coconut milk and 3 cups of veggie stock and give it a good stir
5. Bring to the boil and then turn down to a simmer until the lentils are soft, you may need to add some more liquid and give it the occasional stir
6. While the lentils are cooking, mix the masala paste with 3 tbsp. of oil
7. Cut the aubergines in half lengthways, criss cross the flesh and place on a baking tray flesh side up
8. Brush the masala oil all over the flesh and pop in the oven for 30 – 45 mins until soft
9. Once the aubergines and lentils are cooked serve up on a fluffy bed of basmati rice, lentils first then the aubergines on top
10. Enjoy!

Tip: I used the same cup to measure the lentils and liquids to make sure I get the right measurements. 

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Inspired by Sri Lanka – Prawn and Yellow Lentil Curry with Cheats Pol Sambola

Luckily the oven roasted spice mix makes enough for two curries, as you will want to make this again and again! Filling, earthy flavours with the added zing of the ‘Cheats Pol Sambola’ to really tickle your tastebuds.

Serves: 2, or 4 if you add rice

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 30 – 40mins

Ingredients: For the Sri Lankan Spice Mix, 1 tsp. black peppercorns, 1 tsp. cumin seeds, 2 tsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. fennel seeds, 2 tsp. coriander seeds

For the lentils: 1 cup of red or yellow lentils, 3 cups of cold water, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick

For the curry: 1 can of full fat coconut milk, 12 – 16 King Prawns (depending on size and how many you want!), 2 garlic cloves, 1 thumb sized piece of ginger peeled, 1 red chilli, 1 tsp of coconut oil, (can use vegetable oil), 1 tsp. tumeric

For the ‘Cheats Pol Sambola’: 1/2 small red onion finely sliced, 1.1/2 tbsps. of natural desiccated coconut, 1/2 tsp. of dried chilli flakes (more of less depending on how much heat you like), juice of 1/2 a lime, 1 tsp. fish sauce.

Method:

1. First pre-heat your oven to 200F, place all of the spice mix spices in a roasting tin and roast for 8-10 minutes until starting to brown
2. Rinse your lentils and add to a pan with 3 cups of cold water, the cloves and cinnamon stick
3. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10-15mins until softened, drain and remove the cloves and cinnamon stick and put to one side until ready to use
4. Now make your ‘Pol Sambola’, by mixing all ingredients together and then placing in the fridge until ready to use
5. Once your spices have cooled a bit give them a good bash in a pestle and mortar or a quick blitz in a food processor
6. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan and add the garlic, chilli, turmeric and ginger, fry for a few minutes then add half of your spice mix, save the rest in an air tight container for another time!
7. Fry for a further 2 – minutes before adding the cooked lentils and coating well in the mixture
8. Add the coconut milk and simmer for 10mins
9. Add your prawns and cook for a few minutes longer to heat through
10. Serve with ‘Pol Samba’ and enjoy!

Three decades of civil war and the tsunami in 2004, have left the children of Sri Lanka extremely vulnerable with many of them still suffering from both emotional and physically scars. The tsunami killed tens of thousands of people and flattened towns and villages. Save The Children have since rebuilt 21 schools, safe places for children to play and provided emergency aid and education to 130,000 children. They are also working with local organisations and government to reunite children with their families and develop Early Children Care and Development programmes to give children a better future. To find out more please visit:

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/asia/sri-lanka

Remember all recipes are created for you not only to enjoy, but to also raise awareness of the struggles these countries face on a daily basis, so if you would like to make a donation to Save The Children who are working everyday to support children around the World, please visit my just giving page by clicking the link Just Giving for more information.

Thanks x