Puy, Beluga or Horse Gram Lentil Stew with Eggplant (Link to recipe below)

For this divine cool weather lentil stew, an earthy, dark lentil is called for. Puy lentils are a common choice, and the dark Beluga is excellent. I also love to make it with either Horse Gram or Matki lentils – brown, earthy and delicious lentils that you can get from your Indian shop. How good these are.

Despite the very familiar ingredients, the result is a bit magic and unexpected. It is an O. M. G. dish. The texture of the lentils with the silkiness of the eggplant. The pop of the tomato flavour, the way the sour cream enhances the dish, the heat of the chilli and the Greekness of the oregano.

Serve as it is, for a light meal, or bulk it up by spooning on top of rice, on slices of grilled or toasted sourdough. You can serve the stew either as a hearty starter or a side, or as a main served with any grain you like. It can be made up to three days ahead and kept in the fridge–just warm through then add the creme fraiche, oil, chilli flakes and oregano before serving. It’s at its best served warm, but is also very good at room temperature.

This is an #Ottolenghi recipe – or at least it was until I, naturally, played with it a little. The key change was in the lentil used. You can see his recipe here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/25/lentil-recipes-curried-coconut-soup-aubergine-stew-sweet-potato-croquettes-fritters-yotam-ottolenghi (scroll down a little). It is also in his book, Simple.

#FromTheKitchen #FromTheArchives #Eggplants #Vegetarian #Food

This type of eggplant (Solanum melongena) is believed to be the original form that gave the plant its common English name, for obvious reasons.

... No, I haven't tried cooking with it though I use various types of Thai, Chinese and Japanese eggplants in my Asian cooking ...

#Food #Cooking #Eggplants

Not sure if your eggplant’s ready? 🍆
One day too early = bitter.
One day too late = bland or mushy.

For rich flavor and perfect texture, here’s when (and how) to harvest
👉 https://www.rasnetwork.org/fruits-vegetables/when-to-harvest-eggplant-signs/

#RASNetworkGardening #EggplantHarvest #Eggplants

Recent harvested things from the garden.

Pulled a couple of eggplants out today, they were wilting from unknown, both on the north ends of their different beds so maybe just too wet or perfect conditions for whatever they have. They're on the burn pile now and I treated the area and other eggplants with Soil Blast.

Lots of beans but 5 times as many bean flowers.

#gardening #harvest #GrowYourOwn #cucumbers #tomatoes #squash #zucchini #eggplants #peppers

Today's harvest from the garden, minus any zucchini because I didn't spend much time looking. Picked the largest eggplants and a ones that were on a dying stalk, 2 cucumbers, 2 yellow crooknecks, and 580 grams / 20 ounces of runner beans.

#gardening #GrowYourOwn #harvest #July29 #garden #GreenBeans #cucumbers #squash #eggplants #ScarletRunnerBeans #RunnerBeans

I picked the first eggplants this morning along with the usual things.

#gardening #harvest #eggplants #tomatoes #peppers #squash #zucchini #GrowYourOwn #beans #RunnerBeans #SummerSquash #garden