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“Baigan Ka Bharta”- Serves 3
“Baigan bharta” or roasted eggplant is one of many popular vegetarian Indian dishes. In Indian cooking, there are many different ways in which eggplant may be prepared. I’ve chosen our family recipe as shared by my mom-in-law. In this version, eggplant is roasted slowly over the gas. The eggplant is then mashed and added to a tomato based curry. You could also use the oven to roast the eggplant at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. If roasting in the oven, use a fork to prick the eggplant all over and apply oil.
This delicious dish can be enjoyed with chappatis or toasted pita.
Ingredients:
- 1 small eggplant ( approximately 3/4 pound)
- 4 cloves of garlic, roughly smashed with a mortar-pestle
- 1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
- 1 medium sized onion chopped , ( 1 cup)
- 2 medium sized tomatoes chopped, (1 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste (optional, gives color)
- 2 green chillies chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric/haldi
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder
- 3 tablespoons oil
- salt to taste
- fresh cilantro/ coriander leaves for garnish
Method:
Prick the eggplant with a fork or give a small slit on one side of the eggplant and start roasting on low fire on the gas. This will take 20 to 25 minutes.
The eggplant skin will get charred and the eggplant starts to soften up. Set aside to cool. Peel the outside skin and mash it in a plate. Reserve any juices that come out.
Note for roasting in the oven: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Apply oil on the outside of the eggplant and prick it a couple of times with a fork. Place it on a sheet tray and bake for 45 minutes. Cool, peel and mash. Keep aside.
Heat oil in a vessel. Add garlic and stir for a minute. The garlic should not burn. Then add ginger and green chillies and fry for another 30 seconds.
Add the onion. Caramelize the onions to a dark brown color. To help them brown faster, add a dash of salt. This should take 15 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and tomato paste (if using) and let it cook. Cook for another 8 minutes or until the oil starts to separate.
Add the mashed eggplant, coriander powder, turmeric, red chilly powder, garam masala and salt to taste . Mix this well. Cover and cook on low heat for for 5 -10 minutes.
Serve hot with “chappati ” or pitas.
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It is one of my favorite, comforting dish. Roasting makes the eggplant taste so different.
Hi Balvinder,
I agree with you totally. It is so comforting and roasting the eggplant gives it a great smoky flavor.
omg.. baingan ka bharta is my absolute favorite dish in the world. i mean nothing can top it. it’s just amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your version looks incredible.
Thanks so much.
Yum! And I love eggplant!
THIS is totally a must try! I adore eggplant… especially mixed with these flavorful ingredients!
Thank you for the idea!
asmita love this and love eggsplants!
I have been lovvving eggplant lately! I love this recipe. The pitas on the side are perfect!
Hi Asmita,
This is such a lovely dish!
This way of cooking eggplant renders great flavours.
I have tried this and it was the best eggplant I ever had!
Thanks Indu.
This dish look so delicious and I am always amazed (but shouldn’t be) at how much flavor spices can add to any dish. They are a cook’s best friend!
this looks absolutely delicious! I love egg plant but I’m never sure what to do with it apart from grilling slices!
One of my favourite vegetables
this looks exactly like my kind of dish, thanks for sharing it!
Wow – what a great way to cook eggplant…sounds so delicious!
I can tell already that we will love this recipe Asmita. We eat brinjal a lots and usually I prepare it as a bhaji with similar seasoning or use it in a european way.
I can almost smell all the spices… yum…
This is one of my favourite ways to eat eggplant my friend, your recipe looks gorgeous!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Love baigan bharta — its my comfort food
I can see how this would be great with some pita.
What a delicious way to serve eggplants! I would rather to use the oven to roast the eggplant, because to use the use the fire gas makes me nervous!!
Fabulous! This is just how I make my eggplant, baigan bharta is my favorite Indian dish. I went to make some this weekend but for some reason my eggplant were all seeds! So sad.
I’m going to do this in place of mashed.
I’m going to do this in place of mashed potatoes
It looks truly comforting and healthy as well.
I’m always looking for new ways with aubergines – thanks for the inspiration, Asmita!
This is perfect for using late summer vegetables! Love these flavors.
Mmmmm….another fabulous way to eat eggplant! I’d have no trouble eating all 3 servings myself!
Eggplant has such great flavor, and this looks like a wonderful recipe. The flavors sounds incredible! Really, really nice – thank you.
I always order this when I got out for Indian food because it’s my favorite! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe because now I can make it at home! It looks delicious!
Hi asmita and how are you? I am back to blogging after my parents health improved.. never eaten this dish before, would love to try, bookmarked with thanks. have a nice day
So good to see you back. It’s nice to know your parents are feeling better.
Thank you! I have been looking for a recipe for this! I had what I think was this, at a restaurant last week and I’ve been craving it!
I always love eggplants and it’s one of top veggies that I cannot live without. But I have to say my repertoire is very limited. I have to be more creative and try new ways to cook it. This sounds like a great recipe!
I love roasted eggplant! You know in Greece we make something called ‘melitzanosalata’, which means eggplant salad in which we roast the eggplant as well. I love your version with the curry!
Hi Katerina,
My whole family loves Greek food so much that we eat it at least once if not twice during the week. Eggplant salad sounds wonderful!
This looks wonderful! I absolutely love eggplant in indian dishes – the wonderful indian spices complement the flavor + texture of eggplant so well. Must try this at home!
I prepared this dish last night, D E L I C I O U S. I love the combination of flavours. Since I started reading your blog I use more tomato puree, what a brilliant ingredient. Great tip. Thank you
Hi Rita,
I am so happy to know you tried and enjoyed the”Bharta”. Thank you so much.
Hi Asmita! =)
That looks like a nice veg dish! I like the idea of roasting it in the oven first (since I have an oven now =D). Can it be that roasting it on the gas flame might give some extra flavors?
Hi Helene,
Roasting it in the oven is just fine. It gives a slightly smoky flavor on the gas but you need to clean up the range after that. The spices in this dish really flavor the dish well.
YUM! Eggplant is the best. This sounds so delicious!
This looks absolutely amazing! Baba ganoush is one of my favorite dips and I just love eggplant – it makes such delicious dips!
baingan bharta is my comfort food with phulkas. i can even have them with bread
This looks yummy! I love eggplant