Baingan, also known as brinjal or eggplant, is a classic summer vegetable that offers a lot of health benefits to the body and helps to beat the summer heat. While brinjal might be an overlooked vegetable, its versatility can help you add it to your summer plate in many different ways and flavours.
The violet-coloured vegetable is cooked in many styles across India. While some recipes bring out the smoky flavour of eggplant, others relish it in a curry-based form. If you are looking for delicious ways to add the humble vegetable to add to your diet, here are some traditional Indian recipes you can try this summer.
Baingan Ka Bharta
Baingan ka bharta is one of the most popularly made dishes with the vegetable. If you are a fan of smoky flavours, you would definitely love eating baingan ka bharta. To make the dish, you need to roast an eggplant on a gas flame till its skin darkens. You can then peel off its skin and mash it. Now, all you need to do is cook the roasted brinjal with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilli, and a mix of your favourite spices.
Baingan Curry
Baingan curry is widely made in North Indian households in the summer season. For people who have a palate for tomato-based curries, baingan curry is a must-try. You can make baingan curry by chopping a few eggplants. Next, you can make the gravy with chopped tomatoes, onions, ginger and garlic paste, and add spices like cumin seeds, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, and salt. Once the gravy boils, add chopped eggplant pieces and cook till they are tender. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and relish the hot baingan curry.
Bharwa Baingan
Bharwa Baingan is also made in many northern states of India, such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, etc. To make a traditional meal, you can start by taking large eggplants, slicing them lengthwise, and hollowing them out. Keep enough space to add the filling to the vegetable. Prepare the filling by cooking chopped onions, ginger, and garlic with a mix of spices like cumin seeds, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and garam masala. Once fragrant, add the filling to the slit eggplants and half-fry them till their skin is roasted, and enjoy.
Baingan Kachri
Baingan Kachri is a traditional Punjabi dish that features flavourful disked eggplants. To make the sabzi, you can start by rinsing eggplants and slicing them into disks. Coat the disks with a little salt and red chilli powder and set them aside for about ten minutes. Then, heat a pan, grease it with oil, and sprinkle a little flour on it before adding the sliced baingan disks. Cook both sides of the disks and then serve with a roti.
Baingan Ka Salan
Baingan ka salan is a Hyderabad-special dish that is usually served with the city’s famous biryani. You can make baingan ka salan by deep-frying whole eggplants to make them crispy. In the meantime, you can prepare the gravy by roasting some peanuts and grinding them to make a fine paste. Then, cook it with chopped onions, ginger and garlic paste, and your favourite spices. Add some water and tamarind pulp and cook till the gravy thickens. Finally, add the fried eggplants, let them simmer till they absorb all the flavours, and serve hot.