Maya Glaser Wins Observer Food Monthly best readers recipe award 2010

Imagine my delight, not to mention immense pride, when I met my friend Maya in London last week and realised her hangover was a result of heavy celebrating after receiving an award at the Observer Food Monthly award ceremony the night before.
She even gave me a copy of the Observer supplement for the following Sunday with a picture and recipe of her winning dish.
I have had the privilege of eating her winning dish and can absolutely vouch for its deliciousness!

Sweet Potato and aubergine subji with a red onion and coriander raita.
Enough for 2-3
The base -
1-2 medium sized onions
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 green chilli peppers (according to what strength you like) finely chopped
Salt and pepper to season
25g butter(optional)
A good swig of Extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tin chopped tomatoes
a good handful roughly chopped coriander
The vegetables -
1 large aubergine cut into small cubes
2 medium sized sweet potatoes cut into slightly larger cubes (keep skin on)
2 good handfuls of roughly chopped spinach
The raita -
half a pot of natural yoghurt
1/2 clove of finely chopped garlic
1/2 a red onion, finely chopped
A handful of chopped coriander
A good squeeze of lemon

Fry the onions, garlic, ginger, cumin seeds and chillies with a pinch of salt in a little nit of butter and olive oil until soft.
Stir in the garam masala, turmeric and cardamom, followed by the chopped tomatoes and half of the chopped coriander.
Simmer for 5-10 minutes before adding the aubergine. Leave to simmer under a lid for 20 minutes, then add the sweet potatoes. If it gets too dry, add a little water.
Leave the mixture to simmer for another 20-30 minutes then add the spinach. Leave to simmer until the spinach wilts, then add the rest of the coriander and season.
For the raita, mix the yoghurt, garlic, red onion and coriander in a bowl, add a squeeze of lemon and season to taste.
Serve the subji with basmati rice or toasted lebanese pitta bread and the raita on the side.

Maya, I hope you don't mind the adulation, but if you do...tough! You deserve every bit of it.

For a list of all award winners you can look at the Observer website.