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Soulatouille with hoppin' john

Charita Jones from Market Kitchen
Vegetarian food gets the soul treatment as Charita Jones cooks up this hearty Southern feast

Soulatouille with hoppin' john

Method

1. For the soulatouille: spread the aubergine cubes out on some kitchen paper and sprinkle with the sea salt. Leave for a few minutes.

2. Heat some oil in a pan over a medium heat and the onion, peppers, cumin seeds, chilli flakes, Cajun seasoning, garlic and ginger. Cook until the onions are soft. Add the aubergine, okra and potato and stir well so all the vegetables are covered with the seasonings. Cook for about 2 - 3 minutes until the aubergine begins to reduce in size.

3. Add the tomatoes and tomato puree and a little water. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until all the vegetables are tender. Stir frequently so the tomatoes don't stick to the pan.

4. For the hoppin' john: heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and black-eyed peas and fry until the onion is soft. Add the rice, salt, pepper and turmeric and stir for 1 minute until the rice is coated.

5. Add the water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Once all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender, it's ready. Fork through the rice and serve with the soulatouille.

Cook's note: Charita Jones makes her own 'Momma's Cajun seasoning'. Try the recipe.

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Serves: 6

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 50 min

Ingredients

For the soulatouille

1 large aubergine, cubed
1 tbsp sea salt
vegetable oil, for frying
1 large onion, roughly diced
1 red pepper, roughly diced
1 green pepper, roughly diced
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, (eg Momma's - see below)
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
small knob fresh Ginger, peeled & finely chopped
500g okra, trimmed & slice lengthways in half
1 large potato, peeled & diced
400g can chopped Tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato puree

For the hoppin' john

40ml vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
400g tin of black-eyed peas, drained
450g easy-cook American style rice
1 tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 litre water