Name: Bruschetta with aubergine
Ingredients: 4 thick slices rustic bread; 6 tbsp olive oil; flaky salt and black pepper; 1 medium aubergine; 150g greek yoghurt, at room temperature; ½ tsp pomegranate molasses; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped; ½ clove garlic, crushed; 100g good-quality feta, crumbled; 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (optional)

Starter Vegetarian

Serves 4

Aubergines are, for us, the gift that keeps on giving. For all the aubergines that we've grilled, roasted, charred, steamed, peeled, fried, blitzed and sliced in my life, there always seems to be some new way to cook them or a new combination of flavours to pair them with. Here I look pop them on bruschetta. If you don't use gas, it might be better to burn the aubergine under a hot grill for 1 hour, turning every 20 minutes. And the pomegranate molasses adds a depth hard to replicate.

Ingredients

4	thick slices rustic bread
6 tbsp	olive oil
	flaky salt and black pepper
1	medium aubergine
150g	greek yoghurt, at room temperature
½ tsp	pomegranate molasses
1 tbsp	lemon juice
2 tbsp	flat-leaf parsley, chopped
½	clove garlic, crushed
100g	good-quality feta, crumbled
2 tbsp	pomegranate seeds (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Lay the bread on a flat tray and brush generously with oil. Sprinkle with salt, and bake for 12 minutes, until golden.
Place the aubergine directly on a high flame and roast for 12 minutes, turning occasionally. Leave to cool slightly, then cut in half. Scoop out the flesh, avoiding the burnt skin. Drain in a colander for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, whisk together the aubergine, yogurt, two tablespoons of olive oil, pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, half the parsley and the garlic. Season with salt and pepper. It should be sweetly sharp. Before serving, heat the bread in the oven for a few minutes, then place on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of the aubergine mix on top, then sprinkle over the cheese, pomegranate seeds (if using) and remaining parsley.