Roast aubergine with goulash sauce & sweet potato fries

1 large eggplant , thickly sliced
4 tsp cooking oil
225g prepared weight sweet potatoes , cut into narrow chips
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves , plus a few for sprinkling
2 small onions (190g), halved and sliced
1 green or red pepper , deseeded and diced
2 garlic cloves , sliced
1 tsp smoked paprika
85g cherry tomatoes , halved
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tsp vegetable bouillon powder
200g bag baby spinach , wilted in a pan
25g pumpkin seeds

Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 7. Brush the eggplant slices with 1 tsp oil, put on a baking sheet and roast for 15 mins. Meanwhile place a wire cooling rack on top of a baking tray. Toss the sweet potatoes and thyme with 2 tsp oil, then scatter them over the rack and set aside until ready to cook.

Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan, add the onions, cover the pan and leave to cook for 5 mins. Take off the lid and stir – they should be a little charred now. Stir in the green pepper and garlic, cover the pan and cook for 5 mins more. Put the sweet potatoes in the oven and bake for 15 mins while you get on with the rest of the sauce.

Stir the paprika into the onions and peppers, pour in 150ml water, then stir in the cherry tomatoes, tomato purée and bouillon. Cover and simmer for 10 mins while you cook the spinach according to pack instructions. Stir in the seeds.

Arrange the eggplant, fries and spinach in bowls and spoon on the goulash sauce. Scatter with thyme, if you like.

bbcgoodfood.com