Mnazaleh
(Eggplant and chickpea stew in tomato sauce)
Ingredients
1 large eggplant
1 (or more) fresh hot green pepper
1 cup corn oil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 large onions
3 garlic cloves
4 tomatoes (Fresh tomatoes, as red and as ripe as possible. NOT tinned tomatoes of any sort)
1 tablespoon tomato paste, preferably organic
A pinch (or more) of dried hot chili flakes
200 g whole chickpeas soaked for at least 12 hours*
Directions
• Cut the eggplant into into large cubes.
• Drain chickpeas, place into a pot, add 1 liter water and cook for 45 minutes until soft (Do not add salt at any stage). Remove skins that float to the top and drain water. Set cooked chickpeas aside. Heat corn oil in a deep frying pan and fry eggplant, in 2 batches, until soft, about 10 minutes each batch.
• Slice the onions (separately) across the grain to thin slivers.
• Fry the pepper in the same oil as the eggplant and then caramelize one of the sliced onions in the same oil (add more oil as needed).
• Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Add the second sliced onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender (about 5 minutes)
• Mince the garlic and add with a generous pinch of salt to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about a minute.
• Grate the tomatoes and add them with salt to taste.
• Add 2 cups of water and the tomato paste.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for 15 minutes, until the sauce is thick and fragrant.
• Add freshly ground pepper, then taste and adjust salt. Stir in the cooked, drained chickpeas and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add fried eggplant, onion and pepper. Very gently mix all the ingredients together. It is important not to mush the fried eggplant. Cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Serve at room temperature or a little warmer, but not boiling hot.
* Note: Frozen, cooked chickpeas are definitely ok. Tinned chickpeas, well rinsed, will also do if you need. Obviously, they are not as good as starting from scratch, but an acceptable replacement.
