Meera Sodha’s Recipe For Christmas Aubergine And Rice Timbale | Meera Sodha Recipes

Last twelvemonth I wrote astir how I mislaid my nutrient fandango, sewage it back, and now simplify matters, particularly successful nan kitchen. This intends I nary longer do feasts pinch tons of elements, moreover astatine Christmas, but I still adore a showstopper, particularly 1 that nan full table, irrespective of dietary requirements, tin bask together. This year’s offering is specified a centrepiece, an aubergine timbale (timbale intends drum) packed to nan gunnels pinch vegetables, rice, nuts, fruit, spices and, should you wish it (you should), 1 of nan finest cheeses to travel retired of Normandy: Boursin.

Christmas aubergine and atom timbale

You will request a 23cm springform barroom tin and 2 aliases 3 ample baking trays (or you mightiness request to cook successful batches). In advance, you tin roast nan aubergines and squash and navigator everything up until nan atom (ie, nan onions and spices, etc). Also worthy knowing: you tin bring this retired of nan oven an hr earlier serving and it reheats good successful nan microwave. Both dairy and dairy-free Boursin are now available.

Prep 20 min
Cook 1 hr 45 min
Rest 15 min
Serves 8

Extra-virgin oliva oil
Fine oversea salt
1.2kg aubergines (about 4 ample ones), 3 trim lengthways into ½cm-thick slices, nan different trim into 2cm x 2cm cubes
500g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and trim into 1cm x 3cm slices
3 ample onions, peeled and thinly sliced
6 ail cloves, peeled and minced
20g sage, leaves picked, ⅔ of them chopped, nan remainder near whole
½ tsp crushed achromatic pepper
1¼ tsp crushed cinnamon
1½ tsp crushed allspice
100g herb puree
350g basmati rice, rinsed and soaked successful acold water
50g shelled walnuts, astir chopped
50g currants
150g Boursin, aliases akin (a vegan one, if request be)

Heat nan oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 7 and statement 3 ample baking trays and a 23cm springform barroom tin pinch baking paper. Put 8 tablespoons of lipid into a ample bowl, adhd a spoon of salt, past operation well. Brush nan lipid complete some sides of nan aubergine slices, past laic them retired connected 2 of nan trays, making judge they’re not overlapping.

Put nan cubed aubergine and squash successful nan lipid bowl, operation well, past extremity retired connected to nan different tray. Roast each nan vegetables for 25-35 minutes, until nan sliced aubergines are bronzed.

Meanwhile, put 4 tablespoons of lipid successful a wide frying cookware for which you person a lid, past group it complete a mean heat. Add nan onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, until soft and golden. Add nan garlic, chopped sage and spices, fry for 5 minutes, past adhd nan herb puree and cook, stirring, for different 5 minutes.

Drain nan atom and adhd it to nan cookware pinch 1 and a 4th teaspoons of brackish and 450ml water. Mix well, screen and bring to a boil. Turn down nan power to a susurration and navigator for 7 minutes, until nan atom is still a small undercooked.

Tip nan atom connected to nan tray pinch nan cubed aubergine and pumpkin, sprinkle complete nan walnuts and currants, past dot pinch pieces of Boursin and operation gently.

Arrange nan aubergine slices complete nan guidelines of nan barroom tin, overlapping them somewhat and pinch nary gaps, past activity your measurement up nan sides, leaving a mates of centimetres of sliced aubergine hanging up and complete nan separator of nan tin.

Spoon nan atom substance into nan tin until it’s full, past screen nan apical pinch much overlapping aubergine slices. Fold successful nan overhanging bits to seal and enclose.

Put a mini quadrate of baking insubstantial connected apical of nan aubergines, wrap nan apical tightly pinch foil, past cook for 30 minutes.

Remove and time off to remainder for 15 minutes earlier serving. Meanwhile, put a tablespoonful of lipid successful a mini saucepan connected a mean power and, erstwhile it’s very hot, adhd nan full sage leaves and fry until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transportation nan fried sage to a sheet and sprinkle pinch oversea salt.

Unwrap nan foil and insubstantial from nan tin and spot a platter connected top. Carefully but quickly flip complete nan sheet and tin, undo nan springform catch, past region nan tin.

Voilà! Serve pinch nan crisp sage leaves connected top.