Aubergine Walnut Rouleaux with Wild Blackberry, Mustard Vinaigrette

I'm going to rave about this recipe! If you make it, you will too.  Promise.

It is so, so good.  Have you ever danced around the kitchen with a dish you've just made?  No, me neither.

It is now marching on to Day 13 of Vegan MoFo 2013 (it's a Friday too..eek! but lets forget crazy superstitious nonsense).   I wish I'd participated in Vegan MoFo before.  I love it.  Not just making the food, but the event creates such a lovely community.  It is great to visit some of other blogs everyday and see what they are up to. I am amazed at some of the dishes they are creating.  

Today's dish was inspired by my travels in Berlin, and a friend, who turned up in a rain shower, on my doorstep, with his wet and panting Border Collie, to present me with a big bowl of freshly picked, glossy black berries. He is one of those friends that seems to have a canny knack of knowing just what I need before I do, and makes sure I get it. So grateful.

Aubergine Walnut Rouleaux (Rolls) with Wild Blackberry, Mustard Vinaigrette

makes  about 10-12 rolls

1 large aubergine (eggplant)

Wild Blackberry, Mustard Vinaigrette

1 cup fresh blackberry juice

1 tbs balsamic vinegar

1 tbs agave syrup

2 tbs rapeseed oil or extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp gluten free wholegrain mustard

Himalayan (or sea) salt & cracked black pepper to taste

wash and blend the blackberries, strain. pour juice into a jar.

add all the remaining ingredients. mix.

Creamy walnut filling

1 cup of walnuts soaked over night (makes them far easier to digest)

1/2 block (175g) firm silken tofu (if you don't eat soy then you can probably sub with plain, unsweetened almond yogurt that has been left to drain on some muslin)

1 tsp ground coriander 

1 garlic clove

salt & cracked black pepper to taste

pop all the ingredients  into a blender and blend until smooth.

slice the aubergine 1/2 cm thick.  Rub over with a little salt.  They soak up so much oil so I poured a little oil on a board, mixed with some water and then take the slices and brush both sides on the board.  drop a tbs of oil into a pan and then use some kitchen towel to help coat the pan.  THEN heat (not before, you'll burn your fingers) the pan and place the slices and fry until golden brown.

When the slices have cooled enough for you to hold them, take a spoon of the filling and roll up the aubergine. Repeat for all of your slices.  On your serving dish, spoon over a line of the vinaigrette and gently place the rouleaux onto it.

chilli flakes & paprika for dusting

Serve with fresh organic green beans.  Quick blanched in a little boiling water. About 3 mins.  Rinse in cold water to halt the cooking process and retain colour.

See you tomorrow! x