AUBERGINE AND CHICKPEA RICE (nohut ve patlicanli pilav)

Hi all, today I made this delicious rice dish with chickpeas, aubergine and sun dried tomatoes. I served it for lunch with green salad. This is also good warmed up to accompany the main meals or cold as a party dish.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 4 cups hot vegetable stock or hot water
• 2-3 tbsp oil or butter
• 1 large onion chopped finely
• 1 aubergine, diced finely
• 2-3 tbsp diced sun dried tomatoes
• 1 cup cooked and drained chickpeas
• 1 level tsp mixed spice
• salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh, chopped parsley and dill

1) Fry the onion in a pan until well browned. Add the aubergines and cook together for 5 minutes coating and mixing well.

2) Add the sun dried tomatoes, chick peas and mix spice, mix.

3) Toss in the washed rice coating it well in the spice. Pour the stock into the pan, season with salt and pepper and bring it to boil.

4) Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer for 12-15 minutes until all of the water has been absorbed. Turn of the heat and place a 2-3 pieces of kitchen paper on top of rice and place the lid back on tightly. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes.

5) Fluff the rice with fork and sprinkle some dill and parsley over it just before serving.