Vegan Serves 4 · 700ml/1.25 pints vegetable stock · 350g/12oz cous cous · 1 lemon grated rind only · 60ml/4tbsp olive oil · 50g/2oz flaked almonds, lightly toasted · 75g/3oz canned breakfast apricots, chopped · 45ml/3tbsp sultanas · 45ml/3tbsp fresh parsley, chopped · to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper For the aubergines: · 1 large aubergine cut into 2.5cm/1” cubes · 1 bunch fresh mint, finely chopped · 2 lemons juice only · 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped · 30ml/2tbsp ground coriander · 10ml/2tsp paprika · 10ml/2tsp ground cumin · 10ml/2tsp ground black pepper · 5ml/1tsp cayenne pepper · 5ml/1tsp harissa paste · 2.5-5ml/1/2-1 tsp salt · 60ml/4tbsp olive oil For the chickpea stew: · 2 onions, sliced · 30ml/2tbsp olive oil · 2 cloves garlic, chopped · 5ml/1tsp paprika · pinch cayenne · 1 x 400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes · 150ml/1/4pt vegetable stock · 45ml/3tbsp tomato puree · 1 x 400g/14oz can chickpeas, drained · 1 bay leaf · to taste salt · 30ml/2tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas5. 1. Heat the stock in a large saucepan until boiling. Pour the cous cous in and stir in the lemon rind. Remove from the heat, cover and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Fluff the cous cous up with a fork - it should absorb most of the liquid. 2. Drizzle over the olive oil and fold in the almonds, apricots, sultanas and parsley. Season to taste. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the foil and fluff up the grains again. Keep warm until needed. Place the aubergine in a shallow ovenproof dish. Mix together all the remaining ingredients and toss the aubergine to cover. Seal tightly with cling film and leave for at least half an hour to marinade. 4. Remove the cling film and place the marinated aubergine in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until tender. 5. For the chickpea stew: Fry the onions in the oil until soft and golden. Add the garlic and spices and fry for 2 minutes longer. Add the tomatoes and stock and simmer gently until well cooked and starting to thicken. Stir in the tomato puree, chickpeas and bay leaf. Simmer for 5 minutes more. Season to taste and stir in the chopped parsley. 6. Spread the cous cous on a large platter and ladle the chickpea stew over the top. Top the stew with the baked aubergines and serve. Recipe from www.vegsoc.org