Thai Red Curry With Lentils And Eggplant Recipes

THAI RED CURRY WITH EGGPLANT AND SWEET PEPPERS RECIPE

Steps:

• While pressing the tofu (see notes for chickpea sub)** preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Slice the pressed/drained tofu into (about) 1" (2.5cm) cubes and place on a parchment or silpat lined sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. This will dry the tofu out. Set aside.
• In a large Dutch oven, add the coconut oil and heat until it shimmers. Turn the heat to medium high and add the eggplant and onion. Stir fry for about 6-8 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften. It's okay of the eggplant sticks a bit.
• Stir in the bell peppers and stir fry for about one minute, just to soften a bit. Add the garlic and ginger. Stir for another minute, scraping the bottom of the pot - the garlic and ginger will start to stick. Add the curry paste and red pepper flakes. Take a big inhale..... ahhhh.
• Cook, stirring for a minute more, coating the vegetables with the paste. Stir in the brown sugar and deglaze the pot with broth and coconut milk. Stir in the tofu or chickpeas. Bring to a simmer, turn to low and cook for about 10 minutes just until heated through. Stir in the Tamari and lime juice.
• Remove from heat and spoon over rice. Top with Thai basil, cilantro, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve with additional Tamari and lime wedges.
• Store in a lidded container for up to three days or up to two weeks in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight and gently rewarm on the stovetop.

THAI RED CURRY WITH LENTILS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pot, heat 1 tbsp of oil, add eggplant and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Transfer to a bowl. Note: eggplant absorbs a lot of liquid, if 1 tbsp of oil is not enough, add 1 tbsp of water at a time to prevent the eggplant from sticking and burning.
• In the same pot, heat 1 tbsp of remaining oil and add curry paste and cook for 30 seconds stirring continuously. Whisk in coconut milk, soy sauce, and sugar.
• Whisk cornstarch with vegetable broth in a separate bowl and then add to the pot. Add salt and pepper.
• Add lentils and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add eggplant and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, until lentils and eggplants are fully cooked.
• Stir in basil and turn off the heat.
• Store in air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Serve with brown rice, farro, or quinoa.

THAI RED CURRY CHICKEN AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Heat a heavy saute pan over medium high heat.
• Add 1/4 can of the thicker coconut milk.
• When it bubbles, add curry paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add additional 1/4 can of the thicker coconut milk and cook for 5- 8 minutes, until the oil begins to separate.
• Add chicken and stir to coat well.
• Cook for about 4 minutes until the chicken has changed color and firmed up.
• Add remaining coconut milk, bring to a boil, add eggplant and cook at a simmer, covered until chicken and eggplant are completely cooked.
• Stir in fish sauce and lime leaves.
• Cook at a low simmer for 5 minutes.
• Just before serving, stir in lime juice, chiles and basil.

RED THAI COCONUT CURRY WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Wrap tofu in several layers of paper towels. Place in a colander in the sink. Set a plate on top of tofu and weigh down with a large, heavy can. Let stand for at least 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, shake cans of coconut milk well prior to opening. Pour 1/2 of 1 can into a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in curry paste until well blended. Add eggplant, onion, and bell pepper, stirring well with a rubber spatula to prevent breaking of tender eggplant during cooking.
• Stir remaining 1 1/2 cans coconut milk, dark brown sugar, tamari, rice vinegar, and salt into the saucepan. Mix well. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Unwrap tofu and cut into bite-sized cubes. Stir into curry mixture. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Add peas and cook until warm, 1 to 2 minutes more.

RED LENTIL AND AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) CURRY

Steps:

• Spray pan with oil and cook the onion and garlic until soft.
• Stir in curry powder and cook for a further minute.
• Add aubergine, lentils and stock to the pan.
• Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 30 mins - stir frequently.
• If the lentils are not tender and mushy, boil the curry vigorously for 5 minutes.
• Add salt, coconut milk and coriander.
• Stir and serve.

THAI BASIL EGGPLANT CURRY

Steps:

• This is written to chop as you go, but if that makes you nervous or you don't think you can work quickly enough, just chop everything first. I'll bet you can do it the second time you make this, though. Again, this makes a LOT of food so you'll need a big wok or cook pot, or cut the quantities in half.
• Put your rice on so it's cooking while you work. Follow the directions on the bag and set a timer if you have one because you'll be distracted. It'll be done before the food is ready but will stay plenty hot enough to serve.
• Start with the carrots and potatoes; slice them fairly thin and saute them in the oil and 1/3 tin of curry paste on medium-high heat for five minutes. Cover and go to the next step.
• Cut the eggplant into bite-sized cubes. You can peel the eggplant if you want but I think both texture and flavor is better if you leave the skin on. Add to the pan; saute, stirring occasionally, another five minutes. Cover and go on to the next step.
• Slice the onion and bell pepper into fairly thin strips and add them to the pan; saute, stirring occasionally, another five minutes. Cover and go to the next step.
• Cut the zucchini into bite-size pieces and add to the pan. Strip the basil leaves off their stems and add them too. Stir and cover. Just one more step and you're done.
• Get a blender out and blend the can of coconut milk with one can full of chicken broth and the second 1/3 of red curry paste. Take a good long whiff of it. WOW! Remember to sneeze away from the food. Call one of your family in to smell it and laugh as they experience the same thing you just did, but not in a mean way so they won't get mad when you then ask them to set the table for you while you finish up. Get excited about how awesome this is going to be.
• Add the coconut/chicken/curry liquid to the pan and let it come to a simmer. Once it's simmering you can check a potato or a carrot for doneness; they should be tender. Dinner's ready!
• Serve in a bowl over steaming white rice and a box of Kleenex on the table because you're probably going to need it. Jasmine rice really is preferable for this. If you serve this worthy food over instant rice I swear I'll drive over there and whup you myself. Instant rice is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.