Recipe: Middle Eastern Aubergine Fatteh
For Erin Groot’s new cookbook, Makkelijk Midden-Oosters, her six new neighbours from the Middle East were her source of inspiration. Like Ahmad, the baker who makes the most divine baklava, or Yoones, who would rather eat nothing than his mother’s aubergine stew. Their stories and the fantastic flavours of the Middle East form the basis for these easy-to-make recipes, such as this aubergine fatteh. An extra-special detail: the book’s proceeds will be donated to Movement on the Ground, an organisation committed to supporting refugees.
Erin: “Fatteh consists of pieces of crispy flatbread, topped with other ingredients. We chose a vegetarian version with aubergine and a spiced yoghurt. Delicious to serve in a large dish as a snack or starter and share together.”
How to make aubergine fatteh
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
- Peel and cut the red onions into wedges, and peel and crush the garlic. Cut the aubergines into large pieces, squeeze the juice from the lemon, and finely chop the parsley and mint.
- Heat a frying pan with a splash of olive oil and toast the walnuts over low heat. Leave to cool and roughly chop.
- Mix 200 ml olive oil with ground cumin, ground coriander and half of the garlic. Divide the aubergines and red onions over a baking tray lined with baking paper and drizzle with half of the spiced oil. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes until tender. Turn halfway through and drizzle with the remaining spiced oil.
- Brush the flatbread with a thin layer of olive oil and roast it on a separate rack alongside the aubergines in the oven for the final 15 minutes, until the bread is crispy.
- Meanwhile, mix the yoghurt with the lemon juice and the remaining garlic until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Break the crispy flatbread into small pieces and spread over a large plate. Spoon the aubergine and onion mixture over it, distribute the yoghurt on top and garnish with the parsley, mint, pomegranate seeds and walnuts.
Title: Makkelijk Midden-Oosters
Author: Erin Groot
Price: €30
Publisher: Uitgeverij Brandt
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