Aubergine Pisto

Pisto is a Spanish type of Ratatouille which is ubiquitous in Mediterranean cuisine. It is not a glamorous dish and there is nothing complex about it, so there is very little that can go wrong. It is surprisingly low calorie though, which is great if you’re on a calorie controlled diet. The traditional Pisto recipe has courgettes (zucchini), but I usually make it with just aubergines (egg plant) because I’m not that fond of courgettes. However they do give a nice colour to the dish, so by all means add them if you wish.

Ingredients

• 400g Aubergines (1 large - egg plant)
• 1 large onion
• 5 cloves garlic
• 200g green pepper (2)
• 200g red pepper (2)
• 400g tomatoes
• 2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt to taste

Serves 4 portions. 185 kcal per portion.

 To start off with, finely dice the onions, garlic, green peppers, and red peppers. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and gently fry while you start to dice the aubergines into squares of approximately 1cm (½ inch), but there is no need to be surgical about this! Add to these to the pan and mix well.

If you are using fresh tomatoes (which I prefer) then peel these and finely chop them. It is easier to peel tomatoes if they have been placed in a bowl of boiling water for a few minutes. However you can also use a tin of chopped or pureed plum tomatoes and it will still taste great.

Once the tomatoes have started cooking and dissolving to form the sauce add the spices. The smoked paprika is something I recommend adding as it will add a nice smoky flavour. I don’t always add cinnamon, but it does give the dish a new angle when I’m in the mood for something different.

Let the vegetables cook gently for about 40 minutes total. By this time the aubergines will have softened and if the sauce starts to get a bit dry at any point then simply add a bit of water and give it a good stir.

You can serve Pisto with boiled or fried potatoes, or rice. However I like to have this with 2 poached eggs, making it a satisfying and healthy dinner.