This Durban vegan eggplant curry —usually simply called brinjal curry after the lead vegetable's name in various Indian languages —uses baked or grilled eggplant (aubergine) to bring a deep, slightly smoky flavour to a curry brimming with the flavours of onions, pepper, chillies, tomatoes, coconut, and sweet potato in a rich mix of spices. It can be cooked fiery hot in accordance with the cliché about Durban curries or as a milder affair.

A quick and easy vegan Thai aubergine curry—essentially a classic Thai red curry—is a go-to baseline curry that can be knocked together in no time at all. And, you can easily add chicken or prawns for dining parties with mixed preferences.