Thai Green Vegetable Curry (4-6)

This Thai green vegetable curry is typical of the cooking found in the south of Thailand. You can use most vegetables- I used carrot instead of aubergine in the version pictured but do use the round thai aubergines or baby aubergines if you can find them. I also often substitute the home made thai green curry paste with ready made- using 2-4 tbsps depending on the strength. The recipe is from ” World Food Cafe” by Chris and Carolyn Calidicott.

Lentil, Aubergine and Pomegranate Stew (4)

This dish is thought to have originated from the coastal shores of Jaffa, but is popular in the Gaza Strip, where it was introduced by the Palestinian communities displaced from the northern shores. Now they are being displaced from the Gaza strip, facing mass murder , starvation and total destruction of homes and communities which will take decades to rebuild if a ceasefire and lasting solution is ever agreed.

This Palestinian name for this dish is Rummaniyya. I found it in ” Zaitoun” by Yasmin Khan which contains Palestinian recipes and ” a chorus of stories from those who live, love and cook with Palestine in their hearts”. I’m going to post a few Palestinian recipes and as you cook them I hope you will keep the plight of the Palestian people foremost in your heart and mind . If you would like to donate here is a link .https://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/gaza-israel-crisis-appeal

This dish would traditionally be served with flatbreads and olives, but can also be served with plain steamed rice which soaks up the juices nicely.

Chicken Karai (4-6)

Another recipe from ” Ammu” by Asma Khan. The gravy is quite thick so its very good served with rotis, but you can also serve it with rice. It can also be made with lamb or beef, but you need to extend the marinating and cooking times.

Chapli Kabab (8)

This is a Pashtun dish originating from the North West Frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its popularity spread into the cities of Pakistan and then to certain families in Dhaka in Bangladesh who would serve it on special occassions. This version is from ” Ammu” by Asma Khan