Aubergine curry with lamb cutlets
This aubergine curry with lamb cutlets is a messy recipe to make, and the quantity of oil that the aubergines suck up is not for the faint-hearted – prepare for splattering!
Ingredients
For the curry
1 large aubergine
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp nigella seeds
2 tsp ground coriander
large pinch of turmeric
large pinch of chilli powder
2cm piece of ginger, finely grated
4 garlic cloves, crushed or finely grated
1 can peeled cherry tomatoes
For the lamb
8 small lamb cutlets, French trimmed
2 tbsp plain yogurt
¼ tsp turmeric
olive oil, for frying
To serve
yogurt, coriander leaves and nigella seeds
cooked rice
Method
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For the lamb, mix the yogurt and turmeric, and brush it over each cutlet. Cut the aubergine into large wedges. Put a good slug of oil into a frying pan and fry the wedges on both side until they are browned all over and very soft (add more oil if you need to) – they should look almost translucent and lightly charred. Lift the wedges gently out of the pan with tongs, leaving the oil behind – if you have more than 1 tbsp oil left, pour some off.
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Put the fennel seeds and nigella seeds in the pan and heat them until they start to pop. Add the coriander, turmeric and chilli, and let the oil foam up a little with the spices. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook for 1 min, making sure the mixture doesn’t stick. Tip in the tomatoes and simmer the mixture for 3 mins or until it starts to thicken, then season well. Return the aubergine to the pan to continue cooking.
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Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan. Salt the lamb cutlets on both sides and fry them until they are browned on the outside but still slightly pink inside. It’s important to make sure the fat is well browned.
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Spoon some yogurt over the curry and sprinkle with coriander leaves and nigella seeds. Serve with the lamb and chapattis or rice.
