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Hmm you'll say...yet another food blog! And I'll beg to differ, although I must say my recipes are not hi-funda, and sometimes the pictures do not do justice to them (I'm working on that) but you'll find them extremely easy to cook, hassle free and down right delicious.
So if you are a newbie in the kitchen department or has not ventured into the kitchen for some strange reason (like me)...then you have come to the right place.

Happy Cooking!

On My Table Runner

Friday, March 28, 2008

Bagare Baingan

{Eggplant in Saucy Tamarind Gravy}

Click to enlarge image

This is another recipe which goes great with Biryani, Bagara khana or even plain rice! There has been many versions of this gravy but I always trust Mommy dearest for the ultimate taste.


Ingredients:
11-12 eggplants/baingan
10 curry leaves
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
4 tbs dessicated coconut
4 tbs til
1 handful peanuts
1 tsp khash khash
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 tbs oil
1 cup tamarind puree
1 large onion, finely sliced
1 green chilli, slit
Cilantro to garnish


Method:
Heat oil and fry the onion till crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spoon remove and freeze for a while.

Dry roast, coconut, peanuts, khash khash and til and once they are cool enough, grind them seperately.

Boil the tamarind in water and let it soak completely, remove and strain the pulp in a bowl. Mix the ground mixture and make sure it has blended well in the puree.

Wash the eggplants and trim the head a little, make a + cut at the bottom, soak them in salty water.

Heat oil in a big saucepan and fry mustard and cumin seeds, as they begin to splutter add the curry leaves. Slide a slit green chilli and stir for a while and add the eggplants.

As the eggplants start to glaze, pour the tamarind puree and ground mixture. Finally add the fried onions and cilantro, shut the lid and cook till oil seperates.

Note: Too much onions can make the gravy too sweet and ruin the tangy flavor, make sure you balance the tamarind and onions to your taste.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi lubna , Bagare baingan are my favourite.....i have few brinjals at home ...can wait to try your recipe ....it looks awesome

Lubna said...

Hi Rahin...I hope you'll love the recipe, its one of my faves too. Again thanks and do let me know how it turns out!

Lubna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kajal@aapplemint said...

baingan never looked so good. As a kid i used to detest these,but with age i've come to like them a lot. this dish looks lovely.

Lubna said...

Thanks Kate, this recipe is a worth try...even I used to hate eggplants but now its a regular favorite at my place.

Citrine said...

Oh my, I haven't eaten since noon and you are making me hungry....

eggplant is great...

Anonymous said...

Hi Lubna,

Visiting ur blog after a long time, nice to see yummy Hyd. dishes.

We also make the same way except we had two things:
1. Fenugreek seeds (Methi)
2. Nigella seeds (Kalonji)

My mother-in-law adds some of the above seeds with cumin/mustard seeds and the rest she dry roasts with the coconut, peanuts,etc. and grinds them.

Try adding them next time u make this dish...you need few seeds (10 or 12 each) too much will give bitter taste.

Take care,
Aisha

Lubna said...

Citrine: You'll love this gravy, its very finger licking tasty...

Aisha: Thanks for the tip, my Mom adds fenugreek but nigella is a new ingredient, also its very good for the health too...will try these ingredients the next time I make the gravy.

Kajal@aapplemint said...

ok i'm sure i havent come to the wrong page this time ... and you havent posted anything new ... whyyyy ???
i love to see you made wonderful desi dishes ....c'mon stop being lazy n make something :)

BTW i just ate baigan bharta like 15 mins ago !

Lubna said...

Hey Kate: I know I've been...err super lazy of late. I'm working on some drafts and hopefully I''ll post some backlog recipes, so keep checking ;)
Wow baingan ka bharta sounds yummy..you gonna post the recipe??

Kajal@aapplemint said...

lubs, move your butt n put up a new post !

Lubna said...

Hahahaa Kate, you cracked me up...I'm working on it, I'm working on it!!!

Yasmeen said...

AsSalaam Alaykum Lubna,
Found you from Mona's. the bagara baigan looks rich just as it supposed to look.

Lubna said...

Walaikum Salaam Yasmeen,
It tasted just as heavenly as it looked too...I never go wrong with my Mom's measurements.
Your blog makes interesting reading!
Thanks for visiting :)

sirajsarang said...

Never used to like Baingan or egg plant.But I have introduced something similiar in one of the restaurant as an head of over all food & beverage.But this particular Bagare Bangan is really excellent........Looking forward to something similar Recipes in Future..Thanks