CHICKEN WITH EGGPLANT AND SWISS CHARD
INGREDIENTS
Time: 1 ¾ hours, plus optional chilling Servings: 6-8 6 to 8 tbsp sesame or olive oil 2 medium eggplants
Sea salt, to taste 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 large chicken, cut into 8 pieces 1 tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground turmeric 1½ cups chicken stock or water 1 dried lime (optional, available at Middle Eastern groceries) 1 bunch Swiss chard or spinach (about 450g), cleaned, trimmed and
roughly chopped into 4cm pieces (including stems) Juice of 1 lemon
METHOD
1. Heat oven to 190C and brush a baking sheet liberally with 3 tablespoons oil. Slice tops and bottoms off the eggplants, then slice into 2cm-thick rounds and arrange on a single layer on baking sheet. Brush rounds generously with some of the oil, sprinkle with a little salt, then bake for 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool.
2. Meanwhile, in a large, heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Saute onions and garlic until onions are soft and beginning to brown, reducing the heat as needed to avoid burning, about 15 minutes. Remove to a plate.
3. Sprinkle chicken with salt, half the allspice and half the turmeric. Add chicken to pot in a single layer, working in batches if necessary, and brown on all sides, adding oil if needed and removing chicken when it’s browned.
4. Arrange eggplant slices on the bottom of the pot and cover with the onions and garlic. Add more salt, the remaining allspice and the remaining turmeric, then top with chicken, chicken stock or water and dried lime, if using. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, then remove from heat and let cool before refrigerating overnight.
5. The next day, skim off and discard the layer of fat on the top of the stew. Add Swiss chard or spinach to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover tightly, reduce heat, and simmer slowly for about 15 minutes, or until chicken is heated through.
6. Fish out the lime, if using, and discard. Arrange chicken on a platter surrounded by vegetables, serving sauce in a separate bowl. (Or serve the chicken, vegetables and sauce all together in a large bowl.) Squeeze lemon juice over everything and serve.