Indian Spiced Eggplant and Cauliflower Stew

It is definitely fall now - every week when our CSA shipment arrives we can see the change in what is available. Gone are the field tomatoes and instead we are seeing cauliflower, squash, and cabbage. One of the things we like about the CSA is that it forces us to cook with ingredients we do not normally buy - this recipe was a case in point. I am not a huge eggplant fan and have likely only purchased it a handful of times however with a giant eggplant showed up in the same shipment as a cauliflower I started to search for something interesting to do with it.

Eggplant, cauliflower, chickpeas, and tomatoes are the basis for this rich Indian-spiced curry. You can serve it as a side dish with some wonderful tandoori chicken (which s what we did) or make it a meal and serve it with brown basmati rice or whole-wheat couscous.

Indian Spiced Eggplant and Cauliflower Stew

2 tablespoons curry powder, preferably hot Madras
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1-pound eggplant, cut into 1-inch chunks
3 cups cauliflower florets
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add curry powder, garam masala and mustard seeds and toast, stirring, until the spices begin to darken, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl.

Add oil, onion, garlic, ginger and salt to the pot and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in eggplant, cauliflower, tomatoes, chickpeas, water and the reserved spices. Bring to a simmer.

Cover, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Top each serving with a dollop of yogurt, if desired.

Comments

[Kayte]

What wonderful things you make with the CSA boxes! Eggplant has grown on me and this stew looks like a winner.

[JDeQ]

Our CSA has some weird and wonderful things in it Kayte- makes for some yummy food exploration!

[Kayte]

That said, there is definitely something magical about the person who is able to transform all those goodies into the best of dishes with the most flavor. :-)