smokey aubergine pearl barley

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons tomato purée
30g pack fresh basil, leaves and stalks separated, stalks finely chopped
300g pearl barley
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 litre vegetable stock
1 dried bay leaf (optional)
2 aubergines (about 300g each), cut into 3-4cm chunks
8 whole large garlic cloves, unpeeled
300g pack whole cherry tomatoes
40g walnut halves
1/2 cup ricotta

Method:
preheat the oven to 180°c. heat ½ tbsp oil in a casserole dish or large pan. add the onion, partially cover, and cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened. stir in the smoked paprika, tomato purée and the basil stalks, adding a splash of water if it’s dry. cook, stirring, for 2-3 mins.
stir in the pearl barley, cook for 1 min, then add the chopped tomatoes, stock and bay leaf, if using. season with black pepper and bring to the boil. reduce the heat and simmer for 30 mins, stirring occasionally (and adding 100-200ml just-boiled water to loosen if needed), until cooked.
meanwhile, in a large roasting tin, toss the aubergine in the remaining 1½ tbsp olive oil and season, ensuring the chunks are in a single layer – you may need two tins. add the garlic cloves. roast for 10 mins, then scatter the cherry tomatoes over. roast for 20 mins until the veg is tender.
for the final 5 mins of roasting, spread the walnuts out in another roasting tin and bake until toasted; cool slightly, then chop.
carefully, squeeze the roasted garlic from their skins, using the back of a knife onto a chopping board. stir into the barley, then fold in half the roasted veg.
season with black pepper. serve the risotto topped with the remaining veg, a spoonful of ricotta, the toasted walnuts and the basil leaves.