Spicy, satisfying lumps of aubergine fried in garlicky oil, then nestled in a pungent tomatoey sauce
The aubergine is a shape-shifter. It’s hard to imagine, when you cut into that spongy, bright white flesh, the many-faceted things you could create, from crisp morsels to creamy dips such as baba ganoush (and even a rude emoji). In today’s recipe, the aubergine is transformed into kofta, or Indian meatballs for want of a better description, which are not at all meaty, but are loveable, spiced and satisfying lumps nevertheless. Here they are nestled into their happy place, a garam masala-spiced tomato sauce.
Meera Sodha’s aubergine koftas in tomato and spinach sauce. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food stylist: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food assistant: Katy Gilhooly
Aubergine koftas in tomato and spinach sauce
You’ll need a food processor for this. Don’t skimp on the time taken to cook the aubergines – they need to be fairly dry, so the koftas hold together – so, for many, this will probably be a weekend dish. The koftas freeze well, though, and can be made without the sauce in tow, so you could also double the amounts and freeze half for another day.Prep 20 minCook 1 hr 15 min Makes 16 koftas, to serve 4
Rapeseed oil, for frying
3 aubergines, chopped into 1.5cm pieces (800g net weight)
6 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
¾ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp ground cumin
1½ tbsp tomato puree
100g dried breadcrumbs
Fine sea salt
700g passata
1 ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
100g baby spinach
Naan, to serve
Heat four tablespoons of oil in a large, wide, non-stick pan. When very hot, add the aubergine and cook, stirring regularly, for 15 minutes, until soft and browning. Add half the minced garlic, cook for two minutes, then stir in the cinnamon, pepper, cumin, tomato puree, breadcrumbs and a teaspoon and a quarter of salt. Cook for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat and leave to cool.
Once cool, blitz in a food processor and rinse out the pan. Using clean hands, roll the mixture into 16 koftas (about 35g each) and put on a plate.
To cook the koftas, heat two tablespoons of oil in the same non-stick pan. When hot, lay in eight koftas, spacing them well apart, and leave undisturbed for a few minutes, otherwise they’ll stick to the pan. When the bottom is crisp, use a fish slice to lever them off the pan, flip and cook until crisp and burnished mahogany all over – eight minutes in all. Transfer to a plate, repeat with the remaining eight koftas, then set aside while you make the sauce.
Once cool, blitz in a food processor and rinse out the pan. Using clean hands, roll the mixture into 16 koftas (about 35g each) and put on a plate.
To cook the koftas, heat two tablespoons of oil in the same non-stick pan. When hot, lay in eight koftas, spacing them well apart, and leave undisturbed for a few minutes, otherwise they’ll stick to the pan. When the bottom is crisp, use a fish slice to lever them off the pan, flip and cook until crisp and burnished mahogany all over – eight minutes in all. Transfer to a plate, repeat with the remaining eight koftas, then set aside while you make the sauce.
Heat three tablespoons of oil in the same pan over a low to medium heat and, once hot, add the rest of the minced garlic and cook for about three minutes, until sticky and golden. Add the passata and 200ml water, and leave to cook for 15 minutes, until jammy and thick. Add the Kashmiri chilli, garam masala and a teaspoon of salt, cook for five minutes more, then add the spinach handful by handful and stir in to wilt.
Turn down the heat to a whisper, pop the koftas into the sauce and leave to warm through gently. Serve with naan for dipping and scooping.
Turn down the heat to a whisper, pop the koftas into the sauce and leave to warm through gently. Serve with naan for dipping and scooping.
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