Spicy aubergine with basil

For all the aubergine (eggplant) fans out there, if you like my aubergine recipes here is another one for you. The recipe is something I put together what I can find in my fridge and overload of basil in the garden. It's Thai flavour combining some of my favourite ingredients together. It's not pretty but very yummy. If you do try hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Ingredients:

2 medium aubergines (about 700g), cut into 2 -3cm cubes

about 200 - 250g pork mince (ground pork) or you can use chicken or turkey

3 - 4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 - 3 tbsp thai chilli paste in a jar (nam prik pao or similar), much as you dare

about 3 tbsp fish sauce, or more if you like a bit more salty

about 1 tbsp sugar

about 1 - 1.5 tbsp lime juice

handful of Thai or normal sweet basil without stalks, roughly sliced or chopped

about 5 tbsp cooking oil

Method:

• Heat oil in wok till hot, add garlic stir till fragrant. Add pork stir fry till pork is getting brown and any liquid is reducing. Add chilli paste, fish sauce and sugar. Stir for a little while.
• Add aubergine, stir fry at medium - medium low heat for about 15 - 18 minutes without any water. No need to stir continuously just stir every other minute briefly to ensure aubergine is evenly cooked and nothing is sticking to the wok. Keep doing this till aubergine has softened to you liking. I like it very soft, you can have it a bit more solid if you like.
• Have a taste see if you need any more fish sauce, chilli paste or sugar. When you are happy, stir in the basil and some lime juice.

That is it. Simple isn't it.