Tajine of eggplants with coriander and mint

Tajine is a stew originated from the region of North Africa.The meat and/or vegetables are slowly simmered to allow all the spices to diffuse into the buttery sauce. The Eggplant Tajine is made is delicious served with couscous or bulgur. It is best made with baby eggplants but can also be prepared with larger eggplants cut into quarters lengthwise.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 1 hour
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 16 baby eggplants or 2 larger eggplants, cut into quarters lengthwise
- 1 tbsp butter (or ghee)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 small red onions, slices
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp dried red chili flakes
- 1 tsp coriander seeds, roasted and crushed
- 1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and crushed
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 cans of chopped tomatoes or 1 jar of basic tomato sauce
- salt and pepper
- 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

1. Heat the oil and butter in a tajine (the name of the traditional vessel in which the food is cooked) or in a heavy-based casserole dish.

2. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until they begin to color.

3. Add the chili flakes, coriander and cumin seeds. Add the sugar.

4. When the seeds begin to give off some aroma, toss in the eggplants. Stir to coat them with the spices.

5. Add the tomatoes. Cover and cook gently for about 40 minutes, or until the eggplants are tender.

6. Season to taste and add half the cilantro and mint leaves. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

7. Just before serving, sprinkle with the rest of the cilantro and mint leaves. Serve hot.

Eggplant and Celery Stew - Easy Vegetarian dish

This stew is a vegetarian dish with can be served with rice. For the story, I wanted to make an Indian Eggplant curry but since a dinner was planned at an Indian restaurant at the end of the week, I decided to use my eggplant in another dish. Celery is a vegetable which is rarely used: it's a pity in my opinion because its taste is very aromatic. I personally use both the stalks and the leaves, the latter being even more aromatic.

Serves 2
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty: *

Ingredients:
- 1 big eggplant
- 1 onion
- 4-5 celery branches, with leaves, chopped - Separate the leaves from the branches
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup vegetable broth (more if needed, depending on the consistency)
- salt
- pepper


Cut the eggplant into medium size squares. Sprinkle them with salt and let stand while you prepare the other ingredients.

Chop the onion very finely, cut the celery stalks into small pieces, crush the garlic cloves and cut the celery leaves roughly.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauce pan and add the onion, garlic and celery stalks. Cook for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, rinse the eggplant squares and pat dry. Add them to the sauce pan. Stir and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Let cook for 5 more minutes.

Add the tomato sauce, the heavy cream and the vegetable broth. Add the celery leaves to the stew.

Cover and cook on low heat. Check after 15-20 minutes and add broth if the preparation sticks to the bottom of the sauce pan or is too thick.
There should not be too much liquid but it shouldn't be dry either.

After 45 minutes to 1 hour, the eggplants should be very tender. Adjust the seasoning and serve hot with jasmine rice.

Vegetarian Millefeuille with Summer Vegetables

This recipe came out of my imagination yesterday evening... no meat in the fridge but tofu, one eggplant, tomatoes and feta cheese. By adding some basic ingredients that I always have in my pantry, I prepared this flavorful dish which my husband liked a lot :-)
The presentation in layers is very cute and it's not difficult at all. Try this receipe as an appetizer or an entrée, and make it your own!

Serves 2
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Difficulty: **
--Vegetarian dish--

Ingredients:
- 8 slices of eggplant (1 long eggplant should be enough)
- 8 slices of tomatoes (2 medium size tomatoes should be enough)
Note: try to find an eggplant and tomatoes which are almost equal in diameter
- 8 slices
Note: same as for the eggplant and tomatoes : it's better if the tofu has the same diameter - if not, double the quantity
- 1 handful of basil leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 4 big dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon almond powder (or pine nuts powder)
- about 4 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese
- olilve oil
- sesame oil

Grate the garlic cloves and rub each side of the eggplant slices. Pan fry the eggplant slices in olive oil until golden: you can proceed in batches. Pat dry to remove the excess of oil. Reserve aside.

Pan fry the tomatoes until soft and golden. This should be quick - make sure the tomatoes don't "melt", they need to keep their shape.

Wipe your pan and heat some sesame oil. Pan fry the tofu until golden brown on each side, turning once.

Chop the basil leaves and the dried tomatoes. Mix with 1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and the almond powder.

Prepare the millefeuilles - place the different ingredients in this order:
1 slice of eggplant
1 slice of tomatoe
1 slice of tofu
a small quantity of basil/dried tomatoes preparation
feta cheese
1 slice of tofu
1 slice of tomatoe
1 slice of eggplant

Repeat to make 4 millefuilles. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 390°F / 200°C, then broil on high for 5 minutes.
Enjoy with a baby greens salad and a balsamic vinaigrette.

Moussaka: a classic Greek recipe

The moussaka is a popular classic Greek recipe. The preparation is a bit long but it's worth it. Mildly spiced, moist and very flavorful, this moussaka will delight your guests. Traditionally prepared with ground lamb, you can use ground beef if you like.

Serves 6
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: **

Ingredients:
2 pounds (900g) eggplants
1/2 cup (100ml) olive oil
2 large tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomatoe purée
2 large onions, chopped
1 pound (450g) ground lamb
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 ground allspice (quatre-épices)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup (120ml) dry white wine
salt and pepper

For the sauce:
4 tablespoons (50g) butter
1/2 cup plain (50g) flour
2 1/2 cups (600ml) milk
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/3 cup (25g) grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Cut the eggplants into 5mm (1/4 inch) thick slices. Brush each side with olive oil and lay on an oven grid.
Heat your oven at 180°C / 350°C and cook in the eggplant slices for about 30 minutes, turning them after 15 minutes.

Peel the tomatoes (I personally use a vegetable peeler, it's faster than plunging them into boiling water and then peel away the skin - your choice).

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan and add the chopped onions and lamb. Fry on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up the lamb.

Add the tomatoes, allspice, cinnamon, tomato purée, wine, parsley, pepper and bring to the boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for about 15 minutes.

In a shallow ovenproof dish, place alternate layers of eggplants and meat sauce. Finish with a layer of eggplants.

Prepare the topping sauce: in a small pan, melt the butter and stir the flour. Stir for 1 minute on medium heat.
Lower the heat and gradually blend the milk. Increase the heat to medium again and cook, stirring until thickened.
Add the nutmeg, cheese, salt and pepper.

Pour the sauce over the eggplants and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Heat your oven at 180C° / 350°F. When hot, bake for about 45 minutes. The top should be golden.

Healthy and Natural: Eggplant and Zucchini Puree

Natural, healthy, easy, tasty... this recipe has all good! It is my own version of the eggplant purée. Usually, eggplant requires quite a lot of oil to cook properly in a pan, which is not a very healthy: the trick here is to brush lightly the eggplant with olive oil and bake it in the oven to soften it. Then I mix it will the other ingredients to create a smooth, light and perfect texture. Try it!

Serves 2
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: *
-you'll need a food processor-

Ingredients:
- 1 small eggplant
- 2 small (or 1 regular) zucchini
- 1/4 red onion
- 2 big leaves basil
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- salt & pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Preheat your oven at 210°C/ 410°F.
Cut the eggplant in the middle, lengthwise. Brush the interior with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the inside is soft.

In the meantime, peel the zucchinis (if you are using organic veggies, I recommend to wash them well and to keep the skin).
Steam then for about 10 minutes, until soft.

When the eggplant is ready, scoop the flesh with a spoon and add it to the bowl of your food processor.
Add the zucchinis and all the other ingredients, except the sesame seeds.

Blend for about 2/3 minutes until the preparation is smooth and all the ingredients are mashed.

Sprinkle the sesame seeds on the puree and served hot with some prosciutto/jambon de Bayonne. Enjoy!