Zaytoun Palestinian Recipes: Rummaniyeh: Lentil & Aubergine Stew with Pomegranate Molasses

(See more Zaytoun Palestinian Recipes)
Recipe shared from Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my mother’s kitchen by Joudie Kalla.

“My grandmother Najla has provided my whole family with some really wonderful memories, mainly around food and cooking, as that was what she spent most of her time doing. Her commitment and love to us all has inspired many a chef in our family. This dish is very typical of both Yaffa and El-Lyd in Palestine and it has become very popular in Gaza, too.

So this recipe is dedicated to all those areas where devoted families have continued the traditions that have been passed onto the likes of me, and hopefully now, to you.

Rummaniyeh means ‘pomegranatey’. There are pomegranate seeds and pomegranate molasses all over this dish, draped over lentils and aubergine to create a tangy, earthy combination of utter goodness.”

INGREDIENTS

• 250g brown lentils
• 1 heaped tablespoon ground cumin
• 600ml water
• 1 aubergine, peeled and cubed into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 50ml Zaytoun olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 4–6 large garlic cloves, crushed
• 150ml pomegranate molasses
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 1 pomegranate, seeded
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, to garnish
• Taboon bread or Khubez (pita bread), to serve

PREPARATION METHOD

1. Put the lentils, cumin and water in a saucepan, bring to the boil and then continue to boil for 10 minutes. Add the aubergine, salt and leave to simmer while you cook the garlic.
2. Set another pan over a medium heat. Add the olive oil and the crushed garlic and cook for a few minutes until they turn golden.
3. When the lentils and aubergine have been cooking for about 25 minutes, add the fried garlic and the pomegranate molasses and mix together. Cook for another 5 minutes, then stir through the lemon juice.
4. Place in a serving bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil, scatter the pomegranate seeds over the top and finish with some parsley. Enjoy with hot taboon bread or Khubez (pita bread).

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Recipe and images extracted from Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my mother’s kitchen by Joudie Kalla, photography by Ria Osbourne, published by Jacqui Small (£25).