Pomegranate season!

Saturday afternoons have become a cook-fest in my household. Well, I cook up a storm while Andrew climbs local hills. Today I celebrated the arrival of domestic pomegranates by making a pumpkin, eggplant, pecan and pomegranate stew (see below) and some baked apples with cinnamon, maple syrup and sultanas for dessert.

This dish is a local version of the Persian favourite fesenjān (or fesenjoon). I cobbled this recipe together from several available on the web. The main alteration made (because I prefer to use local rather than imported ingredients where possible) was to use pecans instead of the traditional walnuts.

1 large onion, chopped
olive oil
0.5 teaspoon turmeric
0.5 teaspoon cinnamon
half a pumpkin, cubed
one large eggplant, cubed
2 cups vegetable stock
0.5 cup pomegranate molasses (try Middle Eastern grocery shops or delis)
1 cup pecan nuts, roasted and roughly chopped
seeds from a fresh pomegranate (currently in season here in Australia!)
fresh parsley, chopped

Heat the oil in a large pot and add the onion. Cook until translucent, then add the spices and cook a little longer. Add the pumpkin and eggplant chunks and stir till they're coated in the spices. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and add the pomegranate molasses and pecans. Simmer for about twenty minutes. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley to serve. This recipe makes about six or seven portions. Freeze leftovers for another day.

Today I made enough for tonight's dinner

plus three other week night feasts