Baingan Bhartha

BAINGAN BHARTHA

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Baingan Bhartha is a very flavourful dish made with mashed eggplant cooked with spiced tomato. Traditionally, baingan bharta is made with charcoal roasted eggplant but I have adopted it to the modern kitchen. I usually cook baingan/eggplant in the microwave and then add the masalas to it. This is a very popular dish in Northern India and is usually served with roti, parathas or naan.

Now, let’s get cooking….

Ingredients

  • 1 big Eggplant
  • 2 medium sized tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper cut in small pieces
  • 1 green chilli
  • 1/4 inch piece of ginger
  • 3 tbsps. Oil
  • A pinch of asafoetida
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1 tsp. coriander powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp. red chilli
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 tbsps. Coriander leaves, chopped

 

Method

  • Put the whole eggplant in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 8 to 10 minutes until it is tender.
  • Allow it to cool and then peel off the skin. Chop the eggplant in small pieces and keep aside.
  • Blend the tomatoes, ginger and green chilli.
  • Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium high and stir fry the bell pepper for about a minute. Take out the bell pepper from the pan and keep aside.
  • Again add oil to the same saucepan and add asafoetida and cumin seeds.
  • After cumin seeds crack, add tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, red chilli powder and salt and let it cook for a few minutes until tomato puree has started leaving oil.
  • Add eggplant and let it cook on medium heat. Keep stirring the eggplant and mashing the eggplant as it cooks.
  • Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add bell pepper, coriander leaves and garam masala to the curry and mix it gently.
  • Baingan bharta is ready to serve with rotis, parathas, or naan. Enjoy!
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