Chickpeas In Eggplant Tahini Sauce

In this unusual dish, the inspiration has been the Tunisian kitchen, where chickpeas are a staple, and tabil -- a mixture of caraway seeds, coriander seeds and hot chile pepper -- is the much loved equivalent of India's curry blend. As the chickpeas become tender, the eggplant is cooked down to a puree that becomes the sauce. Bulgur wheat adds chewy substance and tahini (sesame seed paste) gives the stew a nutty richness. Be sure to include the Tomato-Cucumber Salad garnish, which brings lively crunch and color to the stew.

Type: Vegetables
Courses: Soup
Serves: 6 people

Recipe Ingredients

2 cups		Chickpeas - picked over, and
		Rinsed, soaked overnight in ample water
		To cover
1 tablespoon		Olive oil
1 cup		Coarsely-chopped onion
3 1/2 cups		Water
1/3 cup		Coarse bulgur
1 teaspoon		Caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon		Crushed red pepper flakes - plus more to taste
2 lbs		Eggplant - peeled, and
		Cut into 1" chunks - (8 cups)
3 tablespoons		Tomato paste
2 tablespoons		Tahini
1/2 cup		Hot or boiling water
2		Garlic cloves - (to 3) - pressed
2 teaspoons		Ground coriander seeds - plus more to taste
1 1/4 teaspoons		Salt - or to taste
		Tomato Cucumber Salad
3 cups		Diced plum tomatoes - (abt 1 lb)
2 cups		Diced peeled seeded cucumber
1/4 cup		Fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup		Chopped cilantro or parsley
1 teaspoon		Salt

Recipe Instructions

Drain chickpeas and set aside. Heat oil in cooker over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water, reserved chickpeas, bulgur, caraway seeds, and red pepper flakes. Set eggplant on top.

Lock lid in place. Over high heat bring to high pressure. Lower heat just enough to maintain high pressure and cook for 16 minutes. While stew is cooking, blend tomato paste and tahini into hot water. Set aside.

Make the Tomato-Cucumber Salad: In a large bowl, mix tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon juice, cilantro, and salt. Set aside.

After 16 minutes, quick-release pressure. Remove lid, tilting it away from you to allow any excess steam to escape. Set cooker over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste mixture, garlic, 2 teaspoons coriander and salt to taste.

Stir well. If necessary, mash eggplant pieces against the sides of cooker and blend them in to create a thick, creamy sauce. Add more red pepper flakes and additional coriander, if needed. Cook over medium heat until garlic loses its raw edge, about 3 minutes.

Ladle stew into large, shallow bowls and sprinkle on a liberal portion of the Tomato-Cucumber Salad. Pass the remaining salad at the table.

This recipe yields 6 servings.

Per serving: 400 cal.; 18g prot.; 10g total fat (1g sat. Fat); 66g carb.; 0 chol.; 896mg sod.; 16g fiber.

Tips: If you use the long, thin Japanese eggplant, you don't have to peel it. Opt for seedless cucumber or kirbies, which you don't have to seed.

Source:
Vegetarian Times, January 1999

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