Olia Hercules' Spiced Eggplant Mujaddara

This fragrant and tasty Eggplant Mujaddara is a simple Middle Eastern dish of lentils and rice, topped with eggplant (aubergine) and dill. Ready in just 40 minutes, it's vegetarian/vegan.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 eggplants ((aubergines) sliced into 1/2" thick rounds)
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 shallots (peeled and thinly sliced)
• 3/4 cup (150g) uncooked rice
• 1/2 cup (150g) plain yogurt ((dairy or vegan yogurt))
• small handful dill
• 15 oz (400g) can of brown or green lentils (drained and rinsed)
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• olive oil
• salt (black pepper)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 430F / 220C. Heat 1tbsp of olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium heat, add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon and rice and cook for 1min or until the spices release their aroma. Stir, so the rice is coated in the spices.
2. 2Cook the rice - Add 350ml of cold water and 1/2tsp of salt to the spice saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and cook on a low heat, without stirring, for 15mins or until the water is absorbed.
3. 3Then gently stir in the drained lentils with a fork and leave to rest with the lid on for 5-8mins.
4. 4Cook aubergines - Meanwhile, brush the eggplant slices generously with olive oil, sprinkle over the garam masala and season well with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven for 10mins. Then flip them over and cook for another 5-8mins or until soft.
5. 5Fry shallots - Meanwhile, heat 5tbsp of vegetable oil in a small frying pan and shallow fry the shallots on medium heat, stirring often for 2-3mins until dark golden. Lift with a slotted spoon or some tongs and drain on kitchen paper.
6. 6Serve - Use a fork to fluff up the lentils and rice. Roughly chop the dill and stir 1/2 through the rice. Serve the eggplants on top of the rice, drizzle over some yoghurt, top with the crispy shallots and the remaining dill.