YOUR RECIPE FOR CONVECTION COOKING!
Convection Baked Eggplant Lentil Stew with Pomegranate Molasses
Convection, Convection Bake Mode

This delicious vegetable stew includes eggplant, lentils, tomatoes, Anaheim chilies, mint, and lentils, slowly cooked with a generous glug of olive oil and pomegranate molasses. Exceptional results are achieved by baking the stew in a covered pan in Convection, as the circulating heated air ensures no evaporation of liquids, allowing the vegetables to simply melt.
The preparation is extremely simple, as the raw vegetables are mixed with the seasoning and layered into the pan with the cooked lentils and sliced eggplant. The lentils can be steamed in the steam oven or cooked with water in a covered pan for 20 - 25 minutes until softened. The original recipe specified cooking the stew in a small heavy saucepan; however, if you don't have a suitable oven-safe saucepan, it can be baked in a tightly covered small casserole or souffle dish.
Pomegranate molasses can be found at a Middle Eastern grocery store or ordered online. It can also be added to marinades, salad dressings, cocktails, or desserts.

INGREDIENTS
1 large narrow eggplant
½ cup dry lentils, rinsed
Water for cooking the lentils
1 medium onion, chopped into ½" dice
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 Anaheim or another long green chile, cut into ½" dice
2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste