Make these lamb kebabs with harissa aubergines. The winner of Celebrity MasterChef UK 2020 shares the recipe that transports his dad back to his homeland
Prep:25 mins
Serves 4 – 6
3 garlic cloves, crushed or grated thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated2 shallots, roughly choppedsmall handful of parsley, roughly chopped2 mint sprigs, leaves picked and roughly chopped2 tsp ground cumin2 tsp ground coriander1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tbsp tomato purée500g lamb mince1 tbsp chopped coriander2 tbsp pomegranate seedshummus, fattoush salad, flatbreads and tzatziki, to serve (optional)
STEP 1First, make the aubergines. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Slice the aubergines in half lengthways and score the flesh crosswise, being careful not to cut all the way through. Combine the oil and cumin in a small bowl and season well. Brush this over the aubergines. Roast for 45 mins or until soft. Remove to a platter.STEP 2Melt the butter in a small pan and fry the harissa with a pinch of salt for a few minutes. Drizzle this over the cooked aubergines.STEP 3Meanwhile, put the garlic, ginger, shallots, parsley, half the mint, the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, tomato purée and 1 tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper in a food processor. Blitz until everything is finely chopped, about 30 seconds.STEP 4Tip the lamb into a large bowl and add the spice mix, stirring until everything is well combined. If using bamboo skewers, soak these for 15 mins before continuing.STEP 5Form rough handfuls of the lamb mixture into meatballs and thread these onto the skewers. Roll the meat in your hands to flatten into an egg-like shape. Continue until all the mixture has been used.STEP 6Heat the grill to high and grill the kofta for about 6 mins, then turn and cook for a further 6 mins, or until the meat is cooked through. Put the kofta on top of the aubergines and scatter over the remaining mint, coriander and pomegranate seeds. Serve with hummus, fattoush salad, flatbreads and tzatziki, if you like.
