Bagara baingan ~ eggplant

Bagara baingan is one of the most yummiest side dish to be served with a biryani. This dish comes from my hometown Hyderabad. 

The sauce is made using peanuts, coconut and sesame seeds, and it is rich and tangy.

Without any further delay lets look at how to make it.

Ingredients:

Small round eggplants - 10-12
Finely sliced onion -1 medium
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Tomato chopped -1 big
Tomato paste - 1/4cup
Tamarind soaked- 1TBsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
G.chili slit - 2
R.chili powder - 2tsp
Turmeric - 1/2tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2tsp

Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
Salt to taste
Oil 1/2Tbsp
Oil for shallow frying eggplants - 3-4 TBsp

Gravy spices:
Coconut powder - 2TBsp
Roasted peanuts - 2TBsp
Roasted sesame seeds - 1 1/2 TBsp
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon stick - 1/2"
Ginger- garlic paste - 2tsp

Blend everything together with little water to make a fine paste.

 

Procedure:
Make x slit on the eggplants, and cut along keeping the eggplant intact. Keep the stock, it will help to hold the eggplant together.
Heat oil for shallow frying the eggplants, fry till the eggplants are bit soft and change color. Drain on a kitchen towel.

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, onion, and g.chili and saute till onions are light brown.

 Add the blended spice mix. To this add R.chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, coriander powder and salt.

 

Stir till the oil separates from the paste. Now add chopped tomato and the tomato pulp and cook till the tomatoes are soft.

Add the eggplants and mix well and cover the pot for few minutes.

Mash up the tamarind in water and drain the pulp and add the water to the eggplants.

 

Add some more water and cover the pot for about 10 minutes, occasionally stirring the dish.

Once the gravy is reduced to a bit turn off the heat. Remember to keep the gravy bit flowing as it will get thick as it gets cold. Garnish with some fresh coriander leaves.

Make and enjoy this yummy dish with the Vegetable Pulao !

Thank you for stopping by, have a great day!