Baingan Bharta / Bhaigan Ka Bharta Recipe

     
  Today's recipes is Punjabi Baigan bhartha which means Mashed Brinjal / Baigan means Brinjal and Bhartha means Mashed. The traditional way of this Punjabi recipe includes roasting the eggplant/brinjal in clay oven or directly roast them on fire but i used Microwave. I love this recipe a lot. I came to know about this recipe from Manjula's Kitchen. Later i started experimenting myself. I like to add peas to my baigan bharta it looks and tastes so good. The recipe as follows..

Ingredients

1. Eggplant    1 no.(large)
2. Onion    1 large(finely chopped) or 3/4 cup
3. Tomato     1 no.(large Finely chopped) 3/4 cup
4. Peas   1/4 cup or less 
5. Green chillies    3 no.s (finely chopped)
6. Garlic     5-6 cloves(finely chopped)
7. Ginger    2" large piece (finely chopped)
8. Chili powder     1/2 tsp
9. Cumin powder     1/4 tsp
10. Garam Masala powder     1/4 tsp
11. Turmeric powder    1/8 tsp ( i added more than 1/4 tsp i think)
12. Salt     to taste
13. Cilantro     1/4 cup(finely chopped)
14. Oil     1 tbsp
15. Cumin seeds    1/4-1/2  tsp

Method

• Wash the Eggplant, wipe and apply few drops of oil all over it and take a microwave safe plate and keep the eggplant on it and microwave it for 8-10 minutes on high power or until the skin shrinks n tender and set rest for another 2 minutes.
• After that, remove from MW and allow to cool for a while and start peeling the skin entire skin and cut the edges and finely chop or mash the eggplant finely and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a skillet, add cumin seeds and allow to splutter add ginger,garlic,green chillies and saute for a minute.
• Then add onions and saute till it turns translucent.
• Now add tomatoes and saute till mushy and followed by mashed eggplant,peas(if using) stir fry for a minute.
• Add turmeric powder,chumin powder,chili powder enough salt and combine well and cook in medium heat.
• When the masalas get blended nicely with the mashed eggplant lastly add garam masala powder and cook for few minutes.
• That's it...Add some finely chopped cilantro and turn off the stove. Tasty and Delicious Baigan Bharta is ready.
• Enjoy with rotis.