Baingan Bharta

Baingan Bharta
Sabra Krock for The New York Times
Total Time
About 45 minutes
Rating
5(1,599)
Comments
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This satisfying vegetarian dish is adapted from a recipe belonging to Julie Sahni, the popular Indian chef, cookbook author and teacher. Its preparation is very similar to baba ghanoush in that you roast and mash the eggplant before seasoning it with aromatics, herbs and spices, but its flavor profile is wildly different. Here, turmeric, garam masala and jalapeño add warmth, while the addition of lime juice provides brightness. Serve it as a dip with flatbread (like pita or store-bought roti), or as a main dish with rice and raita. —Mark Bittman

Featured in: Meaty and Mighty

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2pounds eggplant
  • 2tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 to 3tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1medium onion, peeled and chopped
  • 3cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1fresh hot green chile like a jalapeño, or more to taste, thinly sliced (discard seeds for less heat)
  • 1pound fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • ½teaspoon turmeric
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½cup chopped cilantro, thin stems included
  • 2teaspoons garam masala
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

176 calories; 10 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 484 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prick the eggplant with a thin-blade knife. Grill over or next to very high heat, turning as necessary until the skin is blackened and the eggplant collapses. Or broil, or roast on a heated cast-iron pan in the hottest possible oven. It will take about 20 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel (this will be easy) and trim away the hard stem. Chop or mash in a bowl, with lime juice.

  3. Step 3

    Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and chiles and cook for another minute. Add the tomato, turmeric and salt. Cook until the tomato is soft, 5 minutes or so.

  4. Step 4

    Stir in the eggplant purée and cook, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and garam masala and turn off the heat. Serve hot with warm chapati bread or pita, or over rice.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,599 user ratings
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Comments

This recipe was incredible, but I did a bunch of research and discovered two things:

1. Add some ginger and coriander powder to the mix when you add the tomatoes.

2. VERY IMPORTANT: when cooking the tomatoes, cook them down over medium high heat until you start to see oils from the onions. Then after adding the eggplant, do the same thing. Once you see oils, reduce the heat to med-low and cook for about 1/2hr, stirring occasionally. It's worth it, trust me.

I used Japanese eggplants and like to include the peel.This is faster and delicious. Saute after each addition: To the oil, add onion, add garlic, add fresh green chili, add raw eggplant chopped into inch chunks. Saute the eggplant long enough to soften it slightly, then add tomatoes coarsely ground in mini food processor as well as salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp garam masala... simmer 10-20 minutes to meld flavors.

If you're in a rush or feeling lazy, microwave the eggplant. Many 'authentic' chefs do this and it still tastes great!

Perfect recipe - quick, easy, and delicious. I made it exactly as written. I served it with store-bought naan and a sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, lemon, and salt.

No need to roast the eggplants. Go to a middle eastern grocery and you will find jars of roasted eggplants peeled and ready to be used, they are used to prepare baba ghanouj. My favorite is a Turkish brand names Sera. But other brand I am sure are just as good.

Solid

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Credits

Adapted from Julie Sahni

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