Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil
This summery dish may be vegetarian, but it's hearty, satisfying, and full of flavor. Serve it over rice and with a dollop of yogurt.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white basmati rice
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1.5 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
- 0.5 cup fresh basil
- 0.25 cup plain low-fat yogurt (preferably Greek), optional
Instructions
- 1Cook the rice. In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine the rice, 1½ cups water, and ½ teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Stir the rice once, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
- 2Sauté the onion. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
- 3Add the remaining vegetables and seasonings. Stir in the tomatoes, eggplant, curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- 4Simmer the eggplant mixture. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until eggplant is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.
- 5Add the chickpeas. Stir in the chickpeas and cook just until heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
- 6Serve over rice. Remove the vegetables from heat and stir in the basil. Fluff the rice with a fork. Serve the vegetables over the rice with a dollop of yogurt on top, if using.