Masala Baingan -- Baingan Bharta

Baingan is popularly known as brinjal or eggplant. It is best of all vegetables. We can prepare number of varieties with the baingan like curries, chutneys. There are different variants in curries like baingan- chilli coriander curry, baingan-jeera curry, onion-baingan curry. Without baingan curry any occasion or function is incomplete.

Masala baingan is my own creation with baingan. But after preparing this dish I shared it with Maharashtra neighbor, who told me that it is called baingan bharta. So I christened it as so. This can be taken with hot rice or roti. For preparing this masala baingan we need to have big eggplant, onions, ginger-garlic paste and some more condiments. The quantities mentioned in the recipe serves 5 people.

Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 to 20 mins
Recipe Category: Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine: Maharashtra
Serves: 5

 Ingredients:

• Egg plants or big baingans - 1
• Onions - 2 large
• Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder - a pinch
• Salt - to taste
• Garam Masala powder - 2 tsp
• Red Chilli powder - 2 tsp
• Oil - 3 to 4 tbsp

Procedure:

1. Roast eggplant on stove top. 
2. Remove the skin of it and mash to make a smooth paste.
3. Chop the onions. 
4. Combine ginger, garlic in equal portions in a blender jar and blend it to make smooth paste. We can use store bought one also.
5. Heat oil in a kadai, fry ginger garlic paste till the aroma comes out. 
6. Add the chopped onions and sauté them till they turn light brown.
7. Add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder and garam masala.
8. Once the onions become soft, add mashed eggplant paste and mix well. 
9. Allow this to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 
10. Tasty, spicy masala baingan is ready. Serve with hot rice.