Directions

    To make stew:
  1. HEAT oil in large pot over medium heat; when hot, add eggplant, onions and garlic. Cook, stirring often and scraping bottom of pan, until eggplant and onions are tender and translucent, about 20 minutes.
  2. PLACE rack in lower third of oven toward end of cooking time and preheat oven to 350°F.
  3. STIR water, chickpeas, crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper into eggplant mixture; bring to simmer. Cover pot with lid or foil and place in oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until eggplant is completely tender (bite into a piece to check). (Stew can be made a day or two ahead up to this point; let cool and refrigerate, then reheat to simmer and proceed with recipe.)
  4. To make dumplings and finish stew:
  5. TOSS together cheddar, flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt while stew cooks, in medium bowl.  In another small bowl, whisk together milk and egg.
  6. STIR milk-egg mixture into dry ingredients when stew is ready, just until combined.
  7. UNCOVER stew; scoop out 4 cups and set aside for a second day recipe like lasagna.

  8. STIR corn, chili powder and cumin into stew remaining in pot. Drop dumpling mixture in eight mounds on top of stew. Cover pot and return to oven for about 15 minutes longer or until dumplings are puffed and feel “set” when lightly pressed.

Cheese As You Please

Our naturally-aged cheddars have 0g of lactose per serving! So go ahead, dig in.