Around the World in 52 Weeks: Eggplant Bharta and Peas

I’ve been the worst world traveler ever. I got sick last month and I totally fell off the cooking wagon completely, so my kitchen travels suffered. Out of this sick month though, I did only miss two of the meals I was supposed to cook (Brunei and Isle of Man). In the next two weeks I’ll be doubling up and making sure I get back on track. This was the one resolution this year that I really didn’t want to fail at, so my cold that turned to a sinus infection will not defeat me!

I’ll also be posting my most recent traveling dish on the usual Saturday. I just wanted to get back on track a little here.

So this dish is Pudina Chicken and Eggplant Bharta and Peas. As I’ve said many times, Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines. In facts, I actually have traveled to India.

It was truly one of the best experiences of my life. The only bad thing is that I got a little spoiled by good Indian food, authentic spices, fresh and delicious bananas, and even the lack of meat. I’m a little hesitant at home to make vegetarian Indian dishes because I feel like I need to use paneer, but I have no idea where to get that locally.

I know this meal is hardly authentic with the Pudina Chicken. When I was in India I didn’t eat chicken at all – everything was vegetable based or paneer based. Maybe I should have made a veg dish. Now I’m kicking myself. The pudina was good, but the bharta was better and is the recipe I’m sharing.

On another note, I’m always looking for ways to prepare vegetables I don’t like. Eggplant is that vegetable in this. I loved this preparation.

Eggplant Bharta and Peas
(source)

 Ingredients
1 eggplant
1/2 onion
1/2 cup frozen peas
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 jalapeno
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/4 lime
butter, as needed
oil, as needed
salt to taste

Directions

1.  Slice the eggplants in half lengthwise and spread with butter. Place the eggplants sliced-side down on a baking sheet. Roast the eggplants at 500 in the oven for about 30 minutes.

2. Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeno in a food processor and puree.

3. When the eggplant is finished roasting, use a spoon to scoop out the roasted innards. Discard the skin. Mash the eggplant until smooth.

4. In a medium saucepan heat some oil over medium-high heat and add the pureed vegetables and mustard powder. Cook until slightly browned.

5. Add the mashed eggplant and peas to the pan. Cook until warm, and then reduce temperature to low. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until the peas are fully cooked.

6. Before serving squeeze in lime juice.

7. Serve over rice.

* serves 2

I’d like to see people travel the globe with me.
Every Saturday I will be posting my recipe, as well as pictures to ethnic cuisines you have made and want to share.

- You must mention The Law Student’s Cookbook‘s Around The World In 52 Weeks in the entry you link. You can either use a link or use the banner.
- In your post you must  at least mention what cuisine the dish is.
- Email me your recipe at elizabeth@crabtech.net. Make sure to include:

* Your name or blog name
* The direct link to your post
* A picture of the dish or permission to pull a picture from the post

- Make sure to email me by Saturday at 12noon Pacific Standard Time

Balti Chicken Vindaloo

Though this is only the second dish I’ve made out of this cookbook, Best Ever Indian Cookbook by Baljerkar, Fernandez, Husain, and Kanani, it by far is becoming my favorite cookbook.

I never thought I would see the day when making an Indian dish could be done in the sparse amount of time I have between classes. I look for short, easy recipes 3 nights a week because I am swamped with class almost all day long. I was poking through this cookbook while doing my meal planning and I came upon the “Balti” section. I’ve never heard of Balti dishes before, so I was intrigued. The book describes Balti dishes as having been developed in England. Bali dishes are described as being “cooked and served in a single pan” needing o be served only with “a simple accompaniment, such as naan or bread.” Additionally, they are easy to cook, subtly spiced, and work well with a variety of protein bases.

I’m usually a butter chicken kind of girl, so this vindaloo dish stretched my typical curry experiences.

The only thing missing was some naan. I don’t know what I was thinking.

Balti Chicken Vindaloo
(From Best Ever Indian Cooking)

Ingredients
1 large potato
2/3 cup malt vinegar
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/4 cup water
8 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions, sliced
1 tsp curry powder
2 jalapenos, chopped

Directions

1. Peel the potato. Cut into large, irregular shapes. Place in a bowl of water and set aside.

2. In a bowl, mix together the vinegar, coriander, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric, garlic powder, ginger, salt, paprika, tomato puree, and water. Pour the mixture over the chicken and set aside.

3. Heat the oil in a heavy pan and quickly fry the onions with the curry for 3-4 minutes.

4. Lower the heat and add the chicken mixture to the pan with the spices. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.

5. Drain the potato pieces and add to the pan. Cover with a lid and cook over medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the chicken and potatoes are cooked.

6. Stir in the chopped jalapenos and serve.

* serves 4
* Shared with Couscous & Consciousness‘s Cookbook Sundays and Not  Your Ordinary Recipes’s Foodie Fridays

Black-Eyed Peas and Eggplant Curry

I’ve said it over and over and over again – I love curry! I could make a resolution to only eat curries for a whole year and be happy as a clam. My boyfriend on the other hand isn’t a big curry lover, so I won’t make that resolution.

Anyway, this curry used ingredients I don’t typically use in my curries. Eggplant really just isn’t my favorite vegetable and black-eyed peas I rarely use (but I had some leftover from the black-eyed pea fritters I had made earlier.)

This dish though was fantastic. I served the curry over rice. YUM!

Black-Eyed Peas and Eggplant Curry
(source) 

Ingredients
1/2 eggplant
1/2 onion
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/8 tsp kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp curry paste
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 tbsp red wine
1/2 cup black-eyed peas, frozen or canned
1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup vegetable broth

Directions

1. Trim the eggplant. Cut each into 1-inch pieces. Set aside. Half the onion and cut into strips. Set aside.

2. In a large saucepan heat the oil over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the eggplant and cook tossing for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, garlic, curry paste, and garam masala, stirring well. Cook for 10 minutes, until the onion is tender.

3. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the wine and simmer, stirring often for about 5 minutes or until a thick stew is formed. Add the black-eyed peas, tomato, and broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

* serves 2
* 246 calories per serving
* This dish is being shared with Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays , Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, and  Tasty Tuesday Party

Kidney Bean Cauliflower Curry

A month ago I made a kidney bean curry and was all about it. It was the first time I had made a curry where beans were the focus of the dish. I liked it so much that I made it again. This time though I followed a different recipe that had more in it than just beans. This recipe packs the curry with cauliflower as well as kidney beans. The flavor was approximately the same  as the last one, but this curry was more filling because of the increase in vegetables.

I love curry. I served this curry over a bed of turmeric rice.

Kidney Bean Cauliflower Curry

Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp peeled and chopped ginger
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/2 tomato, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/8 tsp cayenne
4 oz tomato sauce
1 15-oz can kidney beans

Directions

 1. Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat for about a minute. Add ginger, garlic, onion, and jalapeno and fry for a minute. Add the tomato sauce, salt, cumin, coriander, cumin seeds, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook for an additional five minutes, and stir frequently. Add the undrained kidney beans plus 1/2 cup of water, cauliflower, and tomato. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until the curry is thick enough.

* serves 2
* 416 calories per serving
* I’m sharing this recipe with Midnight Maniac’s Meatless Mondays,  Tuesdays at the Table, and Tasty Tuesday Party.

Kidney Bean Curry

I bought this cookbook forever ago at Borders, when the store was still in existence, but for some reason the book got pushed somewhere and I never made anything out of it. I bought this book years ago, so I can’t believe it’s only now that I am getting around to making anything out of it. 

Indian food is hands down my favorite cuisine there is. I love trying new recipes, I love curries, I just love all the flavors that fill up every mouthful when I eat this delicious food. This is why I can’t believe I haven’t cooked out of this book. I am equally surprised I haven’t made anything out of this cookbook after trying the kidney bean curry. I usually make chicken curries of different variations. I have never made a bean curry (well, I have made chickpea curry).

I served this curry over rice. It would have been nice to have some naan as well.

Kidney Bean Curry

Ingredients
1 cup canned kidney beans, drained
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 in piece fresh ginger root, grated
2 tbsp curry paste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 can petite diced tomatoes
2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the cumin seeds for 2 minutes, until they begin to sputter. Add the onion, jalapeno, garlic, and ginger and fry for 5 minutes. Stir in the curry paste, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and salt and cook for 5 minutes.

2. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain the beans and stir them in with the cilantro. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, adding water if necessary.

* serves 4
* 208 calories per serving
* This recipe comes from the Best Ever Indian Cookbook by Mridula Baljeka, Rafi Fernandez, Shehzad Husain, and Manisha Kanani.
* I am sharing this recipe with Cookbook Sundays at Couscous & Consciousness.