- 400g/14oz small Japanese-style aubergines, thinly sliced into rounds
- good pinch ground turmeric
- salt, to taste
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 250ml/9fl oz plain yoghurt
- 1-1½ tsp sugar
- 1 rounded tsp cumin seeds, toasted in a frying pan and ground in a clean coffee grinder or pestle and mortar
- handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped, to garnish
- Dust the aubergine slices with the turmeric, salt and half the red chilli powder.
- Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan and fry the aubergine pieces until soft (you may have to do this in two batches). Set aside.
- In a bowl, beat 200ml/7fl oz of the yoghurt with the sugar, salt and the remaining red chilli powder. Pour into a small saucepan and heat gently, stirring often to stop it from splitting, for about five minutes.
- Stir in the ground cumin and the aubergine slices. Heat gently and stir to combine.
- Stir in the remaining yoghurt, check the seasoning and serve garnished with the fresh coriander.