Friday, September 12, 2014

SPICY MIDDLE EASTERN-STYLE CHICKPEA, BELL PEPPER, EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND TAHINI STEW (VEGETARIAN) - RAGOÛT MOYEN-ORIENTALISANT AUX LÉGUMES D'ÉTÉ, POIS CHICHES, ÉPICES ET AU TAHINI (VÉGÉTARIEN)


If you follow me via my Facebook page, you might be familiar with my daily " light & healthy supper" posts*. Well to make a long story short, I use this space to share with my fans the detailed desription of the humble, yet delicious, budget-friendly, wholesome and totally improvised meals I cook every evening.

Against all expectations, my quotidian dinner ramblings have become quite popular and a few of the people who enthusiastically read them have told me that I inspire them greatly. Many have even asked me whether I'd consider putting my recipes on the blog.
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
- Sylvia Plath
Of course I'd love to be one of those hyperactive bloggers who publishes on a day-to-day basis and always feels the urge to put pen to paper or grab his/her camera, but unfortunately that's not me. You see, I'm a self-doubting perfectionist who has anxiety issues and suffers from chronic bouts of depression, so unlike many creative souls, I generally cannot be put under any kind of pressure or else my inspiration and mojo disappear. Stress and mood swings kill me and tame my inner fire. As a matter of fact, I am only capable of producing quality material when that big black cloud has ceased to hover over my head and I start to regain my self-confidence as well as my serenity...

Anyway, I have nonetheless been able to quickly take pictures of one of my modest creations that I'm happy to present to you today. This summery "Spicy Middle Eastern-Style Chickpea, Bell Pepper, Eggplant, Tomato And Tahini Stew" is really flavorful. Not only is it pleasantly fragrant, but it is also hearty, seasonal, inexpensive and easy to put together.

Nothing artsy-fartsy here, just straight-forward vegetarian grub for foodlovers who care about their well-being, the environment and the state of their bank account without compromising on taste and quality.

* In case you absolutely don't know what I'm talking about, I invite you to visit my "fan page" by clicking on this link.

Spicy Middle Eastern-Style Chickpea, Bell Pepper, Eggplant, Tomato And Tahini Stew
Recipe by Rosa Mayland, September 2014.

Ingredients:
1 Tbs Olive oil
1 Onion, chopped
1 Cloves garlic, chopped
1 Red bell pepper, cubed
1 Eggplant, cubed
1/2 Tsp Ground cumin
1/4 Tsp Ground allspice
1/6 Ground black pepper
2 Tomatoes, chopped
1 Tsp Tomato paste
400g Cooked chickpeas
3 Tbs Tahini mixed with 5 Tbs Water
3 Tbs Yogurt
A few drops of red Tabasco
1/2 Tbs Fresh mint, chopped
Fine sea salt, to taste

Method:
1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and then the onion. Cook the onion until translucent.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 1/2 a minute.
3. Add the bell pepper and stir-fry for about 4 minutes, then add the eggplant and stir-fry for another 5 minutes.
4. Add the spices, quickly stir and add the tomatoes as well as the tomato paste. Cook for 10 minutes, until the juices of the tomato have evaporated.
5. Incorporate the chickpeas, the tahini sauce, the yogurt, the Tabasco and the mint. Cook for another minute.
6. Season with salt and serve.

Remarks:
The tomatoes should not have dissolved completely - pieces should remain.
If you find that the dish/sauce is too thick add a little water.
The mint can be replaced by fresh coriander (a handful).

Serving Suggestions:

Serve this dish alone, or with couscous or basmati rice.

Ragoût Moyen-Orientalisant Aux Légumes d'Été, Pois Chiches, Épices Et Au Tahini
Recette par Rosa Mayland, Septembre 2014.
 

Ingrédients:
1 CS d'Huile d'olive
1 Oignon, haché
1 Gousses d'ail, hachée
1 Poivron rouge, coupé en dés
1 Aubergine, coupée en dés
1/2 CC de Cumin en poudre
1/4 CC de Tout-épice (poivre de la Jamaïque) en poudre
1/6 de CC de Poivre noir fraîchement moulu
2 Tomates, hachées grossièrement
1 CC de Concentré de tomate
400g de Pois chiches cuits
3 CS de Tahini mélangé à 5 CS d'eau
3 CS de Yogourt
Quelques gouttes de Tabasco rouge
1/2 CS de Menthe fraîche, hachée
Sel de mer, selon goût


Méthode:
1. Faire chauffer une poêle à feu moyen, ajouter l'huile d'olive, puis l'oignon et faire cuire ce dernier jusqu'à ce qu'il soit translucide.
2. Ajouter l'ail et cuire pendant 1/2 d'une minute.
3. Ajouter le poivron et le faire sauter pendant environ 4 minutes, puis ajouter l'aubergine et continuer à faire sauter (en remuant régulièrement) pendant 5 minutes.
4. Ajouter les épices, remuer rapidement et ajouter les tomates ainsi que le concentré de tomate et faire cuire pendant 10 minutes, jusqu'à ce que les jus des tomates se soit évaporé.
5. Incorporer les pois chiches, la sauce au tahini, le yogourt, le Tabasco et la menthe. Laisser cuire encore une minute.
6 Assaisonner avec le sel et servir.

Remarques:
Les tomates ne doivent pas s'être dissoutes - des morceaux doivent rester.

Si vous trouvez que le plat est un peu sec, ajouter de l'eau afin d'obtenir la consistance voulue.
La menthe peut être remplacée par de la coriandre fraîche (une poignée).

Idées De Présentation:
Servir ce plat seul, ou avec du couscous ou du riz basmati.


49 comments:

  1. I love these flavors, what a hearty and comforting stew!

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  2. J'adore ces plats versatiles qui se mangent tout seuls ou sur une socca ou sur des pâtes ou du riz.
    Vivent les parfums et les épices! Et les divines photos qui les transcendent!

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  3. Really you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself Rosa - this is a glorious post and your high standards never slip. So glad you shared this.

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  4. What a gorgeous dish Rosa and just my sort of thing. I might even make that tomorrow. I have so many recipes bookmarked to try not to mention stacks and stacks of cookbooks that sometimes it's a chore to figure out what to make for dinner - too many choices. The images are beautiful here. I think we are a lot alike when it comes to moods, anxiety, bouts of depression and self doubt. I've suffered from it all my life, but I guess that is what fuels the creative impulse. Down time is necessary too. Thankfully I have drafts to keep the machine rolling when I can't muster of the energy or interest to cook something new or document it.

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  5. ecco finalmente dopo aver assaporato con la mente i tuoi piatti ora li assaporo anche con gli occhi....fantastici sapori che adoro!!!

    baci carissima Rosa!

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  6. Now this is one hearty seasonal stew Rosa. I'm loving all the flavors and comforting goodness. I just happen to have all the ingredients including my last garden eggplant and a few stray tomatoes. I'm curious about mixing the Tahini with the water, I don't think I have ever done that before but, I can see how it would work. Love, love, love tahini:)

    Thank you so much for sharing, Rosa...I'm sorry you must go through the strains that weigh you down. Although they are burdensome at times, they do make you unique and beautiful:)

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  7. This sounds really lovely, Rosa. Perfect for chilly fall weather. And I love the vibrant colors in your photos!

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  8. It's simple yet very tasty! Love the flavours, Rosa.

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  9. Le plat semble fabuleux Rosa.
    We went to jean Talon market yesterday and came home with a plethora of eggplants..peppers tomatoes..dill ..cucumbers..garlic scapes..
    It is bounty time.
    And that inspired me.
    Love your honesty.Always.

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  10. Mmh, all these wonderful oriental spices. To taste this is a real gastronomic
    journey.

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  11. I am very happy to see your posts on Facebook, always!! Great dish for an autumn-) Our favorite season!

    Hugs,

    Yelena

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  12. I had no idea about your issues with depression. You create some of the most beautiful photos that I have ever seen. Your work is always recognizable and always amazing.

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  13. That's the kind of meal that I like to cook Rosa, budget-friendly, wholesome and improvised. It looks yummy. I could easily cook it, I just would not add the spices, sorry, but I can't take them :(

    ps.: I'm going to check your facebook page :)

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  14. I like your facebook page Rosa, but I could not comment on it. The way my facebook was done does not allow me to comment on most pages. This is very annoying.

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  15. beautiful light bites :D love it

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  16. Thanks for being so honest about your depression Rosa. I think whatever works for each blogger is great :)

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  17. I'd love to be capable to make such wonderful photographs as you, Rosa. But everyone has to live with what its possible. Liebe Grüsse.

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  18. Scrumptious photos, beautiful dish! xo
    (Sylvia Plath is spot on.)

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  19. That's the kind of meal that I'd love to cook ! Thank you so much for the recipe!

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  20. Hi Rosa, love everything about this dish, looks amazing! Great pics!

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  21. Dearest Rosa, You are truly an "inspiration" to many!!!!! Love this recipe and love your words <3

    Big Hugs,

    Aldy.

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  22. Wow, nice and comforting meals Rossa!!!
    lovin chickpea all the way....

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  23. I like all the ingredients in this recipe. Looks and sounds delicious. :-) Beautiful bowl.

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  24. The type of food I never get sick of. You can't miss the meat with a hearthy dish like this one.
    I find myself in the words you used to describe a vegetarian, someone "who cares about well-being, the environment and the state of their bank account without compromising on taste and quality". I hope you could always feel free to be the blogger (person!) you want. Like you, I also refuse to follow a particular rule or routine, it's just not me.

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  25. Ce ragout a l'air bien bon !
    J'ai bien ta vaisselle.
    Bonne semaine
    verO

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  26. Lovely flavors and so healthy too. Very pretty bowl by the way.
    Sam

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  27. I am one of those who enjoys your daily meal ideas ... but there is no need to be hard on yourself or put pressure. Perfection is overrated and the beauty lies in imperctions that give us character. I love your work and do it at your pace.

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  28. You've made your simple meal look elegant in your beautiful bowl. I hope those dark clouds stay away more and more.

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  29. Creativity should be at it’s own pace and should not be forced, it kills itself. I think that is true for most of us, I love your blog just the way it is, because it is you. I would not change a thing. But, I would love to come and sit down with you to have the chickpeas, it’s my kind of meal. :)

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  30. This sounds so tasty! Love it. Hugs!

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  31. I love dishes like this, Rosa! It looks amazing and full of flavor.
    (Love that last photo!)

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  32. This is my kind of food. I love your food and your photography. You shine when you shine. Maybe that down time is filling you up with your wonderful creativity.

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  33. What a fabulous post Rosa!! Loved all the pictures. And the goblet in the background...is it Pewter? It is to die for :)

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  34. Sounds and looks delicious Rosa. I'm thinking that coconut milk in it would be good too!

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  35. Love, lovely flavors, Rosa! Your beautiful photos make us wish to taste your delicious and healthy chickpea dish :)

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  36. wow! what a fabulous dish! i love spicy food! photos are great- as always:)

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  37. this looks wonderful so pleased to see you sharing these recipes, I always wanted to see them also

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  38. Looks yummy as well as healthy. Tu devrais publier quelques recettes de temps en temps pour ceux qui n'ont pas Facebook ;)

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  39. I really missed your recipes. This one is right as I like it. Flavorful and meatless..I love the use of tahini sauce. Will definitely try it.

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  40. This sounds like a great meal! I've been craving chickpeas and have stew on my mind. Perfect timing!

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  41. Comme toujours un vrai régal pour les papilles et les pupilles dans ta chaleureuse chaumière. Bonne semaine ma belle rosa XX

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  42. Dear Rosa, Sounds wonderful. I like this meal. Healthy, tasty and budget friendly. The pictures are stunning too.
    Blessings dear. Catherine xo

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  43. My Indian palate is salivating looking at this delicious chick pea dish. Beautiful flavors there.

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  44. Rosa, as much as I have always enjoyed your photography, I have missed your cooking.

    I've been knocked senseless with an avalanche of eggplants this summer, and would love to try your satisfying-looking stew.
    Whenever you start to doubt yourself, please, read all your comments a second time.

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  45. this is packed with some of my favorite veggies--so appealing!

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  46. This post of yours is indeed a visual treat,can't take my eyes off the photographs,lovely bowl and a healthy recipe too!

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  47. Elle a l'air délicieuse cette recette, colorée et parfumée!!

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  48. Love love love your style and photography Rosa!! They are worth inspring for...how do you do so well!!! They are subtle yet the most beautiful.

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