I eat a predominantly plant based diet, and I have difficultly digesting processed foods and gluten for the most part. Admittedly when we became vegetarians I had no idea what to make since North American food culture is one based heavily in breads, dairy and meat – and that’s exactly what I grew up eating. Listen, I’m a chubby girl for a reason – I’m not interested in this whole food-as-medicine movement, where we all eat grass and try to pretend like we like it because it’s trendy. That being said, I do try to be mindful about what I do put into my body, knowing that when I nourish myself I have more energy to do the work that feeds my soul. I just want that food to taste good! I’m constantly looking at recipes from around the globe to get ideas about how other plant based people eat around the world.
This is why I’m all about this Lebanese summer stew. Let me tell you why I love it:
It’s hearty and filling comfort food
It has a lovely flavour
It can be enjoyed alone or over a grain (quinoa if you want a full protein)
It’s the only eggplant dish my kid will eat
Although this is technically a summer dish, eggplants are usually readily available year round, like many nightshade plants such as tomatoes and potatoes.
There are two tips to getting this recipe just perfect:
The first tip is peeling the skin the tomatoes – this keeps the skin which becomes stringy out of the stew. To do this you slice a thin “X” into the bottom of your tomatoes with a sharp knife. Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, and the skins will begin to lift and peel off the tomatoes within a few seconds. Once the skins begin to lift, remove them from the water, allow to cool slightly and peel them with your hands.
The second tip is pre-roasting the eggplant allows it to get nice and crispy first so that it doesnt get super soggy in the stew. I peel the eggplant in strips leave 50% of the skin on before roasting it. The eggplant will still soften a little, but if you skip this step you’ll have more of an eggplant soup than stew. The roasted eggplant is the final thing I add to my stew.
Remember: As tasty as this stew is, be sure to eat mindfully as you enjoy it! The better you chew the more easily digestible your meal will become, and you body won’t have to waste excess energy breaking down your food.
MAGHMOUR INGREDIENT LIST:
2 large eggplants (about 2 pounds) 2 cups canned chickpeas (or ¾ Cup Dry Chickpeas, soaked overnight, skins removed) ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups fresh peeled tomatoes, chopped (canned works if out of season) 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 teaspoons ground cumin 3 teaspoon smoked paprika 3 tablespoon fresh chopped mint 1 – 2 cups water or vegetable broth pink Himalayan salt to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Cut your eggplants into cubes about two inches square. Coat with half of the olive oil and roast in the oven until tender and browned (about 20-30 minutes).
2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. If you used dried chickpeas peel as much of the skin from the chickpeas as possible.
3. Boil a pot of water. Cut a thin “X” into the bottom of your tomatoes with a sharp knife. Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, and the skins will begin to lift and peel off the tomatoes within a few seconds. Once the skins begin to lift, remove them from the water, allow to cool slightly and peel them with your hands. Chop peeled tomatoes.
3. In a heavy bottomed large pot heat remaining olive oil. Add onions and a pinch of salt and sauté until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until garlic is tender and fragrant.
4. Add tomato, tomato paste, paprika, drained chickpeas, and mint. Bring to a simmer and cook until flavors meld, about 10-12 minutes.
5. Add the roasted eggplant last, and cook for 5-10 more minutes.
6. Add additional water/broth as necessary to maintain a moist, stew-like consistency.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Serving size: About 1 Cup Calories: 325 Fat: 22 Saturated fat: 3 Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 33 Sugar: 13 Sodium: 32 Fiber: 11 Protein: 9 Cholesterol: 0
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