Spanish Pisto

Well like how Ratatouille is to France, Pisto is to Spain. This is a Vegetable Stew made out of different vegetables. You can add any vegetables of your choice. However the traditional Pisto uses onion, tomatoes, garlic, zucchini and Capsicum. Instead of Zucchini, I used brinjal.

If you need a good Pisto, you need to saute each vegetable separately and also saute them in generous amount of Oil (preferably Olive Oil). I also used Sesame oil instead of Olive oil. Also I used ajwain seeds instead of thyme. Agreed, this is more work, but the outcome is very good. In case you dont have the time to saute the vegetables separately, then make sure that you fry brinjal and zucchini separately and the rest of the other veggies together.

Ingredients:

Onion 1

Tomatoes 4

Capsicum (Green, red, yellow) - 1 cup

Brinjal 2

Ajwain Seeds 1/2 tsp

Oregano powder

Pepper powder 1 tsp

Chilli powder 1 tsp

Cinnamon Stick 1

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add cinnamon stick and garlic. Saute it until the raw smell of garlic goes away.

2. Next add onion. Saute them nicely until they become translucent.

3. Next add capsicum. Saute them for couple of minutes.

4. Add red chilli powder and salt.

5. Chop 2 tomatoes and add it to the stew. Saute them until the tomatoes turn soft.

6. Next puree the rest of the tomatoes. Add it to the stew. Cover it with a lid and cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

7. In the meantime, heat another pan. Add oil. Once oil becomes hot, add brinjal. Fry them for 4-5 minutes.

8. Next add the fried brinjal into the tomato mixture and stir it thoroughly.

9. Add pepper powder, ajwain seeds, oregano powder. Mix them well.

10. Cook it covered in a medium flame for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir them occasionally.

11. Switch off the flame.

12. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.