Hot & sour aubergines

Skip the meat and try out a saucy vegetarian stir-fry with soy and vinegar sauce, fresh coriander and spicy chilli

Ingredients

• 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large or 2 smaller aubergines, cut into 2½ cm chunks
• 1 large onion, cut into half moons
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 red chilli, thinly sliced
• small pack coriander

For the sauce

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Chinese black or red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 1 tsp cornflour, dissolved into 2 tbsp water

Method

1. In a small bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients. Heat a large frying pan and pour in 1 tbsp of the oil. Season the aubergine and brown on all sides until soft (you may need to add another 1 tbsp oil as they cook) – this will take about 15 mins. Set aside.
2. Pour the remaining oil into a wok. Add the onion and garlic, and stir-fry for 3-4 mins on a low heat until the onion is soft and the garlic golden. Add the aubergine and pour the sauce over. Stir together, turn the heat down to low and cover with a lid for 2 mins. Take the lid off and stir-fry again for 1 min more. Serve with chilli slices and coriander sprinkled over.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, February 2014