Name: West Indian Aubergine Curry
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Caribbean/Indian
Ingredients: 2 aubergines, large (cut into 1 cm slices); 2 tsp cumin, ground; 2 tsp coriander, ground; 1 tsp turmeric, ground; 2 tsp salt; 1 tbsp rapeseed oil (for frying, up to 2 tbsp if needed); 150 ml water; 4 tbsp tomato purée; 300 g tomatoes, diced; 1 green chilli, finely chopped (with seeds for more heat); 2 cm fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 4 tsp sugar; 6 spring onions, in rings; 1 bunch fresh coriander, roughly chopped; 300 g plain yoghurt; rice or roti or naan (cooked, or warm); 1 lime, cut into wedges

Preparation

Mix the cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt in a bowl.
Cut the aubergines into slices about 1 cm thick and score both sides in a diamond pattern with the tip of a knife. Rub the slices all over with the spice mix until it is all used up.
Stir the water, tomato purée, diced tomatoes, chilli, ginger, garlic and sugar together in the empty spice bowl.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Fry the aubergine slices, slightly overlapping if necessary, for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Pour in the tomato mixture, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the slices occasionally, until completely soft. If the sauce looks too dry, add up to 100 ml water; adjust the seasoning at the end.
Scatter over the spring onions and coriander and serve with rice or roti, yoghurt and lime wedges for squeezing.

Drink with it

White wine · excellent match
Gewürztraminer or off-dry Riesling
A little residual sweetness tames chilli and ginger, and the spicy, floral character of the wine suits cumin, coriander and turmeric.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
Pale lager · excellent match
Helles lager, ice cold
Carbonation and chill cool the chilli and ginger, and the slim malt body leaves the spices in front.
Pils or Helles: What's the Difference?
IPA · good match
India pale ale, well chilled
Carbonation and fruity hops refresh between the soft, spiced aubergine bites and suit lime and coriander.
What Is an IPA? Hop Aroma with Many Faces
Spiced rum · good match
Spiced rum over ice or as a highball with soda and lime
The vanilla and cinnamon notes of the rum pick up cumin and coriander; ice and soda hold the alcohol back so the chilli is not fanned further.
What is spiced rum? Pay attention to the legal designation
Red wine · good match
Light, fruity red wine (e.g. Beaujolais), lightly chilled
Little tannin and red fruit sit alongside tomato and aubergine without covering the spices.

Why it pairs well

Spiced rum as a highball is the Caribbean outsider: its spice notes meet cumin and coriander, while soda and ice keep the chilli in check.

Preparation

Mix the cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt in a bowl.
Cut the aubergines into slices about 1 cm thick and score both sides in a diamond pattern with the tip of a knife. Rub the slices all over with the spice mix until it is all used up.
Stir the water, tomato purée, diced tomatoes, chilli, ginger, garlic and sugar together in the empty spice bowl.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Fry the aubergine slices, slightly overlapping if necessary, for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Pour in the tomato mixture, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the slices occasionally, until completely soft. If the sauce looks too dry, add up to 100 ml water; adjust the seasoning at the end.
Scatter over the spring onions and coriander and serve with rice or roti, yoghurt and lime wedges for squeezing.

Drink with it

White wine · excellent match
Gewürztraminer or off-dry Riesling
A little residual sweetness tames chilli and ginger, and the spicy, floral character of the wine suits cumin, coriander and turmeric.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
Pale lager · excellent match
Helles lager, ice cold
Carbonation and chill cool the chilli and ginger, and the slim malt body leaves the spices in front.
Pils or Helles: What's the Difference?
IPA · good match
India pale ale, well chilled
Carbonation and fruity hops refresh between the soft, spiced aubergine bites and suit lime and coriander.
What Is an IPA? Hop Aroma with Many Faces
Spiced rum · good match
Spiced rum over ice or as a highball with soda and lime
The vanilla and cinnamon notes of the rum pick up cumin and coriander; ice and soda hold the alcohol back so the chilli is not fanned further.
What is spiced rum? Pay attention to the legal designation
Red wine · good match
Light, fruity red wine (e.g. Beaujolais), lightly chilled
Little tannin and red fruit sit alongside tomato and aubergine without covering the spices.

Why it pairs well

Spiced rum as a highball is the Caribbean outsider: its spice notes meet cumin and coriander, while soda and ice keep the chilli in check.

West Indian Aubergine Curry

Preparation

Drink with it

Gewürztraminer or off-dry Riesling

Helles lager, ice cold

India pale ale, well chilled

Spiced rum over ice or as a highball with soda and lime

Light, fruity red wine (e.g. Beaujolais), lightly chilled

This pairs well too.

Bread Dumplings with Chanterelle Sauce (Semmelknödel mit Eierschwammerlsoße)

Chana Masala

Courgette Fritters (Zucchinipuffer)

Falafel with Tahini Yoghurt

West Indian Aubergine Curry

Preparation

Drink with it

Gewürztraminer or off-dry Riesling

Helles lager, ice cold

India pale ale, well chilled

Spiced rum over ice or as a highball with soda and lime

Light, fruity red wine (e.g. Beaujolais), lightly chilled

This pairs well too.

Bread Dumplings with Chanterelle Sauce (Semmelknödel mit Eierschwammerlsoße)

Chana Masala

Courgette Fritters (Zucchinipuffer)

Falafel with Tahini Yoghurt