When there are only two of you it can be tricky to manage leftovers. Freezing is useful but not everything freezes. Often you want to make up a meal of leftovers later in the week but the meals you have eaten earlier in the week don't go well together. I had the idea of cooking to a theme so that we bought less and used everything. Basing the week on Indian flavours we started with meatballs and paneer. I didn't use all the paneer in the first meal and not all the meatballs were eaten but they were able to be incorporated later.
Sticking with the Indian theme I turned to Jack Santa Maria who as usual provided the answer. A very simple soup comprising primarily lentils and stock. For two, saute a finely sliced onion, crushed garlic and a bay leaf in ghee. Add 1/2 cup red lentils with 2 tbsp rice and 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock. Bring to the boil. Simmer until the lentils are cooked. Add 1 tsp garam masala and season with salt and pepper. To serve squeeze in some lemon juice and swirl though a handful of shredded spinach to wilt. Jack didn't suggest this but I had some spinach which needed to be used. Although this sounds way too simple it was just perfect. In fact I was so inspired by this soup that I looked to see if Jack had written any more books and I found two - Traditional Indian Cookery and Indian Meat & Fish Cookery. I ordered both of them and they are now waiting at Max's flat in London for us to collect when we visit in June. Look out for more Indian cooking in July.
I then made a very simple aubergine curry by roasting a halved aubergine smeared with curry paste in the oven for 20 minutes at 200. If you score the aubergine halves into cubes without cutting the skin it will cut up easily later. When the aubergine is cooked cut it up and return to the pan with 1/2 cup vegetable stock and 200g yoghurt. Stir to mix through and cook in the oven about 10 minutes until the sauce is heated through and thickened a little. The next day heat up the left over aubergine with the left over meatballs & tomato sauce and the unused paneer. It is a completely different meal but it all goes together.
And when you are eating an Indian meal don't forget shrikand, the wonderful sweet spiced yoghurt. The perfect conclusion to any Indian themed meal.
