It took me a long time to figure out what was in this mysteriously flavored concoction, and even then I had to ask my host (who was from Kashmir, where this is common) what was going on here. The apples and eggplant complement each other perfectly, to the point where each loses a bit of its identity and gains something unusual. Serve this as a side dish any time you like, not just with Indian food.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　1/4 cup corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil

　　1 pound eggplant, preferably the small lavender kind, cut into 1-inch cubes

　　1 pound Granny Smith or other tart, crisp apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths

　　1/2 cup tamarind paste, homemade (page 585) or store-bought

　　1 teaspoon fennel seeds

　　1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger

　　1 teaspoon ground cardamom

　　1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

　　Pinch of ground cloves

　　1/4 teaspoon cayenne

　　1/4 teaspoon asafetida (hing; see page 10), optional

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

　　

Step 1

Put the oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. A minute later, add the eggplant and apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant and apples are both quite tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Gently stir in all the remaining ingredients except the cilantro, along with 1/2 cup water; adjust the heat so the mixture simmers. Cook, stirring gently, until the mixture is thick. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then garnish and serve.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.