We still have no idea why aubergine is such a divisive vegetable.
You either love it or hate it.
Well hopefully this gorgeous curry will help change your mind if you still need some convincing.
Aubergine really is the star of the show in this dish.
We fry the aubergine until soft, then combine it with a fragrant sauce using tasty spices, tinned tomatoes and coconut milk.
That’s all there is to it.
Simple and delicious. Enjoy!

30-Minute Aubergine Coconut Curry
Print ThisIngredients
2 aubergines
- vegetable oil
- 1 onion
- 2 red peppers
- 1 x 400g / 14.1oz tin of chopped tomatoes
- 200ml / 7 fl.oz tin of coconut milk
For the paste:
- 4 garlic cloves
- thumb of ginger (30g / 1oz)
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1-2 tbsp of water
To serve:
- fresh coriander
- basmati rice for 4 people
- mango chutney
- poppadoms
Instructions
- Heat a generous drizzle of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Meanwhile top and tail the aubergines, slice in half widthways, then cut into 1 inch chunks. Add the aubergine and fry for 10 minutes, stirring regularly so they cook evenly. Meanwhile peel and dice the onion, garlic and ginger and slice the peppers, and set them all aside for later.
- Once soft, transfer the aubergine to a bowl and pop the pan back on the heat. Wipe out the pan, return it to the heat and add the cumin seeds and coriander seeds to the pan. Toast for 2 minutes. Transfer the seeds and diced garlic and ginger to a pestle and mortar (if you don’t have a food processor, you can also make the paste using a small blender), then pop the pan back on the heat again. Add a drizzle of vegetable oil to the pan and fry the onions for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile add the remaining paste ingredients to the pestle and mortar and grind until smooth. Then add the paste and peppers to the frying pan and fry for 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile cook the rice as per packet instructions.
- Pour the chopped tomatoes into the pan along with the cooked aubergine from earlier. Swirl a splash of water into the tomato tin and add it to the pan. Simmer for 8-10 minutes. Finally stir the coconut milk into the curry, turn the heat up and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce is hot.
- Serve the curry alongside rice, poppadoms and a dollop of chutney. Finish with a few coriander leaves.