3 November 2010

Vegetable puree and aubergine


Where has all the corn gone?, that's what I want to know. A few weeks ago the stallholders of Ridley Road were shouting at me to buy six ears for a pound and now I can't find anything in my usually reliable spots. The season's over I suppose. I don't think I used its abundance as well as I might. This altered my plans slightly to cook sweetcorn polenta with aubergine, another ace looking combination of flavours from Plenty. Instead of the six ears of corn specified I used two I already had and made up the rest of the vegetable bulk with potato and butternut squash. Unless you are baking most recipes can take more than a little fiddle...


For the vegetable puree the squash, potato and sweertcorn were all boiled in salted water until tender. They made a trip to the magimix and a chunk of feta, olive oil and salt and pepper all followed. I think any combination of sweetish vegetables would work well here and a little salty feta primes the resulting gloop well.


The sauce is very easy - no onions to sweat and no fancy flavours. Fry the aubergine in plenty of oil, add tomato puree, wine (given a lack of wine some white wine vinegar stood in well for me), a tin of tomatos and herbs (dried thyme and oregano for me) over a period of forty-five minutes or so whilst stewing gently the whole time.


For something on the side we had spinach (adult naturally, tastes better than the boring baby stuff) with chickpeas and the reliable combo of cumin, chilli flakes and smoked paprika.


I would recommend frying some breadcrumbs to tip over the top of the glorious mush for some textural contrast. I seem to be become a bit of a fan-boy but I've got to say that Mr Ottolegnhi delivered again on this dish. Granted it does look and feel like baby food but it's deeply warming for a night of late autumn and the sweet-sharp taste of the silken, vinegar stewed aubergine prevents it from being actually infantile.


Not a bad likeness, huh?



Eggplant on FoodistaEggplant

8 comments:

  1. Oh yummers. You seems to be finding inspiration in that book where I failed! I'm just going to wait until you cook each dish and make the ones that pique my interest. This does.

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  2. Yeah there are plenty more in there I'm gonna make I think...green pancakes with lime butter could be next. Funny how different books strike you at different times though.

    I think more soups are needed.

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  3. It was delicious. Myam yam, thanks!

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  4. Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. I like the veggies you used and the herbs. It must have been scrumptious!

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  6. I came across your site from the foodieblogroll and I'd love to guide Foodista readers to your site. I hope you could add this aubergine widget at the end of this post so we could add you in our list of food bloggers who blogged about aubergine, Thanks!

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  7. Good for you, you did a really good remake.

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  8. Alisa, that sounds like a great system with the widget - have given it a go. Is there a way to get it positioned centrally? Thanks.

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