Aubergine, Preserved Lemon and Tomato Pitta Pockets
These vegan pitta pockets are filled with golden roasted aubergine chunks and a preserved lemon salsa. Serve with slices of fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of tahini to complete this tasty lunch.
Ingredients
| For the roasted aubergines | |
|---|---|
| olive oil, for brushing | |
| 2 | large aubergines (eggplant) |
| flaky sea salt (kosher salt) and freshly ground black pepper | |
| For the preserved lemon salsa | |
| skin from 1 | preserved lemon (about 10g/¼oz), shop-bought or homemade (page 234 of Honey & Co Daily) |
| 20g/¾oz | basil leaves |
| 20g/¾oz | parsley leaves |
| 1 tsp | dried marjoram (or dried thyme) |
| 1 | garlic clove, peeled |
| 2 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1 tbsp | white wine vinegar |
| a pinch of | flaky sea salt |
| freshly ground black pepper | |
| To assemble | |
| 4 | pitta breads |
| 80g/2¾oz | homemade white tahini (see below) |
| 2 | large tomatoes, each cut in 8 slices |
| White tahini | |
| 100g/3½oz | tahini paste |
| 1 | garlic clove, peeled and crushed |
| 1 tbsp | lemon juice |
| ¼ tsp | salt |
Method
Heat your oven to 220°C fan/240°C/475°F/gas mark 9.
Brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Cut the aubergines in thick slices (about 2cm/¾in), place on the baking sheet, then brush the cut surfaces with a bit more oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 25–30 minutes until golden and really soft when pressed.
Blitz the preserved lemon skin with the basil, parsley, marjoram and garlic until it forms a paste (you can use a blender or a meat grinder). Tip the paste into a bowl, then use a spoon to stir in the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to make a salsa.
Sprinkle the pitta breads with a little water and pop them in the oven to warm for 40–50 seconds. Remove and slit each one to open into a pocket.
Put a generous tablespoon of tahini (see below) and 4 slices of tomato in each pitta. Pour the salsa over the warm aubergines. Divide them between the pitta pockets and serve warm.
White tahini
*Makes about 200g/7oz.
Mix all the ingredients together with 100ml/3½fl oz of water to form a thick paste. If it is too thick for your liking, you can an extra teaspoon or two of water to dilute.
Keep covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. You may wish to add a little splash of fresh lemon juice after a day or two, as the flavour mellows out.
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