Baingan Bharta: Easy Eggplant Recipe

Side Dishes

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Thursday, November 24, 2011, 11:06

Baingan bharta is one of the commonest Indian recipes that we make when we are in a hurry. The very name of this easy egg plant recipe brings the smell of burned eggplant skin and the soft roasted matter within to the nostrils. It is an unique eggplant curry where you have to burn the vegetable first and then prepare it! Baingan bharta is is a very easy to make eggplant recipe provided you know how to roast the eggplant properly. From there on it is like any other ordinary bharta recipe.

This eggplant curry requires no special out of the box spices. In fact this eggplant recipe is easy to make because there are not that many spices involved. It draws its taste from the roasting process more than anything else.

Ingredients For Baingan Bharta:

1. Baingan or egg plant 1 (medium size)
2. Onions 1 (sliced)
3. Tomatoes 1 (chopped finely)
4. Ginger 1 inch piece (grated)
5. Green chillies 4 (chopped finely)
6. Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
7. Cumin powder 1 tablespoon
8. Coriander powder 1 tablespoon
9. Red chili powder 1 tablespoon
10. Hing or asfoetida 1 pinch
11. Coriander leaves (parsley) (chopped)
12. Bay leaf 1
13. Oil 1 tablespoon
14. Salt as per taste

Procedure For Baingan Bharta:

• Roast the whole eggplant on the flame of the gas stove. You can grill it in the microwave oven as well on the higher rack for about 5-7 minutes.
• On the gas it will cook faster but keep the flame on sim and in both cases you have to change sides so that is cooks evenly.
• When the eggplant has a charred look to it, remove it from the flame and keep it aside for cooling. As and when it cools, mash it into soft pulp with the back of a serving spoon.
• Now heat oil in a pan and temper it with cumin seeds, hing (asfoetida) and bay leaf. Add the onions and saute them till they turn golden (in 2 minutes on low flame).
• Add the ginger and green chillies and stir to mix well. Add the tomatoes last and sprinkle salt so that the tomatoes melt quickly. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
• Now transfer the mashed roasted eggplant to the pan and mix it up with the spices. Add all the powdered spices to it; mix, cover and cook for about 5 minutes stirring at regular intervals.

Serve Baigan bharta garnished with coriander leaves.