Eggplant and lamb rice

This week's trip to the Indian store got us some dill weed and I wanted to use it as fast as possible.  I made Dill and Lima Beans Rice and I was planning to make it again and make some lamb side dish to go with it. But then I decided to make some rice with lamb and I followed this Labanese lamb rice recipe to the A...meaning I changed it quite a bit

So...my recipe for today is Eggplant and lamb rice with Dill

Eggplant and lamb rice with Dill

Eggplant and lamb rice with Dill

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb lamb cut into 1 inch pieces
2. 2 tablespoons oil
3. 2 bay leaves
4. 1/2 cup chopped onions
5. 1 medium small American eggplant cut into small cubes (and if possible peel the thick skin)
6. 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
7. 1 cup dill weed
8. 2 cups long grain Basmati rice
9. 1 teaspoon each of salt, turmeric, coriander powder
10. 1/2 teaspoon each of chilli powder, cumin powder, garam masala
11. 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
12. 1 teaspoon sambar powder (Optional)

Note: Because I was feeding kids with not so strong teeth I pressure cooked the lamb pieces for 3 whistles with 1/4 cup water and half of the salt and turmeric

In a pan heat the oil and fry the bay leaf for a minute. Add the onions and fry till they start becoming brown. Add the peeled chopped eggplant with all the spices, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add the pressure cooked lamb and stir to combine. Add 2 cups of rice and sambar powder if using and stir to combine. Add 3.5 cups of hot water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the dill and lemon juice and stir to combine. Give it a taste test and add more salt if required. 

For serving, spread a tablespoon of plain yogurt on a plate and serve lamb and dill egg plant rice on top of it. And serve with sliced onions

Baingan bharta rice

In this world there are two types of people: who love eggplant and those who hate eggplant. Me and my Big B used to be the people in the second group, but one day mom sent us to buy eggplants and that was the day we tried it and shifted to the first group.

So basically I love eggplant

This rice dish with eggplant is one of those dishes which will warm you up from inside. This is a great dish when it is cold and gloomy outside

Baingan bharta rice (creamy Rice with roasted eggplant and tomatoes)

Baingan bharta rice

Ingredients:

1. 1 medium sized American eggplant
2. 2 cups rice
3. 2 medium large tomatoes chopped
4. 1 cup chopped onion
5. 1 teaspoon each of salt, chilly powder, ginger garlic paste, coriander powder
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin powder, turmeric powder, garam masala
7. 1 tablespoon oil

Cut the eggplant into half length wise. Roast it over the stove flame (if your stove is gas) until the skin starts to wilt. Else roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Scrape the flesh of the roasted eggplant once it cools down.

In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till they start turning brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes and all the spices, stir to combine. Cover and cook till the tomatoes got pulpy. Add the roasted eggplant pulp and stir well. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add rice and cover and coo for 20-25 minutes or until rice is done. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy