Baingan Ka Bharta - Roasted Eggplant Dip

This is one of the comfort foods for me, Baingan Ka Bharta . It is traditionally a charcoal-smoked
brinjal/eggplant delicacy cooked with onions and tomatoes. You could even roast the eggplants on a stove top , oven or a gas grill. The preferred way would be the charcoal grill or tandoor where you could get the charcoal flavor.

Ingredients :

• 2 large Eggplants/Baingan (approximately 2 pounds)
• 1 cup red onion finely chopped
• 2 cups tomatoes finely chopped
• 3-4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger finely chopped
• 2-3 green chillies finely chopped
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• salt to taste
• 4 tbsp oil
• Freshly chopped Cilantro

Preparation :

• Roast the eggplants until the skin starts peeling off. (Baste/Brush them with a little oil before roasting).Allow it to cool.

• Remove the skin and stem.

• Chop and mash the roasted eggplants. Also finely chop the onion,tomatoes, garlic,ginger and green chillies.

• Heat oil and add cumin seeds. When they crackle, add onion and garlic and saute till golden brown. Add ginger and green chillies. Fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder,red chilli powder and salt. Fry till the oil leaves the sides.
  

• Add the mashed eggplant and mix well. Fry for about 2 -3 minutes. Let it cook for another 4-5 minutes on slow flame.
• Baingan Ka Bharta is ready to be served. Garnish with freshly chopped Cilantro. Serve with hot butter Naan.
• This recipe serves 4.