Eggplant & Chickpea Stew

12 Ratings
  • 5 5
  • 4 4
  • 3 1
  • 2 0
  • 1 2

This tasty vegetarian stew, studded with plenty of eggplant and protein-rich chickpeas, is reminiscent of ratatouille. The eggplant breaks down and makes a saucier stew if you peel it before cooking, but you can certainly leave the peel on if you prefer. Serve over quinoa or soft polenta with sautéed spinach on the side.

Judith Finlayson
Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2011

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Recipe Summary

total:
8 hrs 45 mins
Servings:
8

Nutrition Profile:

Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine dried mushrooms and hot water in a bowl. Stir well and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve lined with a paper towel and set the liquid aside. Finely chop the mushrooms.

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  • Meanwhile, peel eggplants, if desired, and cut in half lengthwise. Brush the cut sides liberally with 2 tablespoons oil. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side down, and roast until tender, about 25 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker (see Tip).

  • Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 to 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, cinnamon stick, salt, pepper, bay leaf and the chopped mushrooms; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and chickpeas. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the eggplant.

  • Cover and cook until the chickpeas are very tender, about 4 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in tomatoes and parsley.

Tips

Tips: To quick-soak chickpeas (or other dried beans), place in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

For easy cleanup, try a slow-cooker liner. These heat-resistant, disposable liners fit neatly inside the insert and help prevent food from sticking to the bottom and sides of your slow cooker.

To make ahead: Prepare through Step 4 and refrigerate (in a container other than the slow cooker insert) for up to 2 days. To finish, transfer to the slow cooker and continue with Step 5. The cooked stew can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Equipment: 4-quart or larger slow cooker

Use leftover stew to make Eggplant & Chickpea Baked Pasta.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1 1/4 cups
Per Serving:
220 calories; protein 8.6g; carbohydrates 33.3g; dietary fiber 11.1g; sugars 11.1g; fat 7.3g; saturated fat 1g; vitamin a iu 526.7IU; vitamin c 19.9mg; folate 143.2mcg; calcium 90mg; iron 3.4mg; magnesium 63.5mg; potassium 766.6mg; sodium 391.8mg; thiamin 0.6mg.
Exchanges:

1 fat, 1 lean protein, 1 starch, 1 vegetable
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