Baingan Ka Bharta ( Aubergine mash)

Preparation time: 15 minutes                     Cooking time: 30 minutes         Total time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

FOR ROASTING:

2 medium size baingan

Little oil to rub on these – sunflower oil

OTHER INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp oil – any oil can be used of your choice
• 1 tsp jeera
• ½  tsp of black rai
• 1 tej patta
• 2 medium size onion cut into small pieces
• 2 tsp of grated ginger
• 4 cloves of garlic cut into small pieces
• 2 medium size tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 tsp tomato puree
• 1 green chili ( optional)
• ¼ sp red flake chili
• 1 tsp of ground coriander
• 1 tsp sea salt, more can be added as per taste
• 1 tbsp of kasuri dry methi
• ½ garam masala.
• Few stigs of fresh coriander leaves, cut coursely

METHOD:

1. For roasting, wash the baingan and dry them with paper. Then rub oil on both the baingan and keep it directly on the gas fire. Go on turning it after every 2 to 3 minutes. You will see that the cover starts splitting and the inner side of the baingan becomes visible. It will feel softer when touched. It may take 10 to 12 minutes to completely roast these. Once these are fully roasted, put them in a big bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.
2. After 5 minutes, take these out of the water and peel them and mash them completely and keep aside.
3. Take a heavy based pan and keep on medium heat. Add oil and as soon as it gets a little bit hot, add jeera, rai, and tej patta.
4. Soon after add onion, ginger and garlic. Cook these for 5 to 6 minutes stirring often. Once the color changes to light pink, add chopped tomato, tomato puree, green chili, red chili, coriander and salt and mix these nicely. At this point reduce the heat to low and cover the pan so that the tomatoes are combined properly and it turns into a smooth paste. This paste should be stirred occasionally so that it does not get burned.
5. Then add mashed baingan and sprinkle kasuri methi also. Stir these nicely and leave it uncovered and keep on stirring after every 2 to 3 minutes.
6. There should be no water visible in the pan. After 10 minutes, colander should be added and stirred for few more minutes,
7. Delicious bharta will be ready. Little garam masala and a few stigs of coriander should be sprinkled on it for decoration.
8. Finally, bharta can be enjoyed with hot rotis or rice.