Baked Aubergine With Couscous Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap garlic in aluminum foil. Cook until cloves are soft, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool, and squeeze the soft garlic from the cloves; set aside.
• Cut 3 eggplant in half lengthwise, and place the 6 halves cut side up on a cutting board. Using a paring knife, cut around the perimeters, leaving a 1/3-inch-wide border and being careful not to cut through skin. Cutting down through flesh, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Using a small spoon, scoop out the strips, keeping skin intact. Cut strips into 1/4-inch dice. Set both the diced eggplant and shells aside. Cut the remaining eggplant, skin on, into 1/4-inch dice. Set aside.
• In a large skillet set over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and slightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add all diced eggplant, bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 6 to 8 minutes. If mixture starts to become dry, add the additional tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
• Place couscous in a medium heat-proof bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water over couscous. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let sit until slightly cooled, 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Add lemon zest, ricotta, parsley, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the reserved eggplant mixture, the roasted garlic, and cherry tomatoes. Stir to combine.
• Fill each reserved eggplant shell with couscous mixture. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake until warm throughout and shell has softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove foil, and continue cooking until tops are toasty brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Put the aubergine on a baking sheet, brush with oil and season. Grill for about 15 mins, turning and brushing with more oil halfway, until browned and softened.
• Meanwhile, tip the couscous into a large bowl, pour over the stock, then cover and leave for 10 mins. Mix the tomatoes, mint, goat's cheese and remaining oil together. Fluff the couscous up with a fork, then stir in the aubergines, tomato mixture and lemon juice.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a roughly 22cm ovenproof skillet or frying pan, then add the aubergine slices in a single layer (you'll need to do this in batches). Cook for 2-3 mins on each side until just golden and softened, adding another 1 tbsp oil between each batch. Transfer to a plate.
• If the pan is dry, add another 1 tbsp oil. Fry the garlic until sizzling but not coloured. Stir in the tomatoes, harissa, sugar and a pinch of salt. Bubble for a minute, squashing the tomatoes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, halve each piece of halloumi (don't worry if they fall apart). Arrange the aubergine and halloumi slices in overlapping concentric circles on top of the tomato mixture, ensuring there are one or two pieces of halloumi between each aubergine slice. Drizzle with a little more oil and sprinkle with the mint. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 mins at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then remove the foil and bake for a further 5-10 mins until the halloumi has started to brown. Serve with warm flatbreads, rice or couscous.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. With a sharp knife, criss-cross the flesh of the aubergines in a diagonal pattern, then place on a baking tray. Brush the flesh with 1 tbsp vegetable oil.
• Mix the miso with 25ml water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste over the aubergines, then cover the tray with foil and roast in the centre of the oven for 30 mins.
• Remove the foil and roast the aubergines for a further 15-20 mins, depending on their size, until tender.
• Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and heat ½ tbsp vegetable oil over a medium-high heat in a frying pan. Add the couscous to the frying pan, toast for 2 mins until golden brown, then tip into the pan of boiling water and cook for 8-10 mins until tender (or following pack instructions). Drain well. Serve the aubergines with the couscous, topped with the chilli and a scattering of coriander leaves.