Ingredient Ideology | BAINGAN-E-BAHAR By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef.
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BAINGAN-E-BAHAR
Tempting recipes using Brinjal…
Brinjal is one of the most popular vegetables in our Indian cooking and has been known to us for a very long time. It is one of those ingredients which is easy to cook, work with and adapt to our day-to-day cooking in a number of ways. Brinjal as we know has various names across the globe like aubergine and eggplant as well.
Brinjal is available in a number of sizes and colors as well from the bright green to the shades of purple it has a vibrant appearance when it comes to attracting us at the vegetable vendors or markets. The beneficial properties of brinjal also make it a common choice by most of us to make it a part of our recipes and delicacies from the yummiest roasted brinjal Bharatha to the middle-eastern baba ganoush dip and from the masala baingan to the baingan aloo ki subzi the list goes on and on.
To me brinjal is one of the most interesting ones when it comes to fusion cooking and mix- n- match creative recipes and some of my all-time favorites are indo- Filipino brinjal with Toyo chicken, indo- Sri-Lankan curry leaf fish with baby brinjal, the indo-thai baingan ka saalan with lemongrass and coconut too is just out of this world!
“Brinjal or Baingan as we most commonly know it, is one of the easy to work with, versatile and tasty vegetables known to us for a long time, it is adaptable in a number of recipes beyond Asian Cooking as well”- Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef.
Here are a few simple and easy recipes with brinjal from a touch of Indian to global flavors for all of us to relish:
Recipe-1] STIR-FRIED BRINJAL SALAD
Ingredients
Brinjal- 400 gms, cut into thick strips
Carrots- 150 gms cut into sticks
Beans- 100 gms cut into 3 each
Onion-1 no sliced
Tomato- 1 no sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp
Chili flakes-1/2 tsp
Olive oil/oil-2 tbsp.
Garlic-1 tsp chopped
Green chilies-2-3 slit.
White vinegar-2 tsp
Lime juice-2 tsp
Schezuan sauce- 2 tsp
Chopped coriander/parsley- 2 tbsp.
Flax seeds/ sunflower seeds/ melon seeds- 2 tsp
Cherry tomatoes/ micro-greens/ olives- for garnish.
Method:
1. prepare all the ingredients for the stir fried salad with brinjal.
2. Heat oil in a pan add in the garlic, onions, chilies and saute for 15 seconds.
3. Add in the brinjal and carrots/beans and any other veggie of your choice and saute for 1-2 mins.
4. Add salt and pepper and simmer the pan with a cover for 12-15 mins, until cooked.
5. Now add in the other seasonings, herbs, chili flakes, seeds, and sauces to taste and finally add lime and vinegar as well.
6. Cook the salad for 2-3 mins on medium flame and remove, serve warm garnished with nuts/seeds/greens etc.
Recipe-2] MASALA STUFFED BRINJAL
Ingredients
Baby brinjal- 10-12 no slit
For the stuffing:
Grated coconut-1/2 cup fresh/dry/desiccated coconut
Roasted peanut powder-1/4 cup
Ginger-garlic-chili paste-1 tsp
Tamarind pulp-2-3 tbsp.
Jaggery- 2 tsp grated
Salt to taste
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
For cooking the brinjal:
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-2 tsp
Hing-1/4 tsp
Jeera seeds-1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Onions-1 cup chopped finely
Ginger-garlic-chili paste-1 tsp
Tomatoes-1/2 cup puree fresh
Salt to taste
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Water-1 cup
Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the masala brinjal recipe.
2. In a saucepan combine together the ingredients for the stuffing and cook all together for 3-4 mins on low flame and cool, stuff the slit brinjal with the stuffing and keep aside.
3. Heat oil and ghee in a kadai and add in the hing, onions, ginger-garlic-chili paste and saute for 1-2 mins. Add tomato puree and all powdered spices and salt to taste. Allow the masala to cook for 2-3 mins, add little water and also place the stuffed brinjal in this masala and cover and cook for 12- 18 mins and check if well cooked.
4. Adjust the seasonings and flavors to taste and serve the recipe hot garnished with fresh coriander leaves and enjoy with hot chapati and with a splash of fresh lime juice on the brinjal.
Recipe- 3] BAINGAN KA FUSION BHARTHA
Ingredients:
Oil- 2 tsp
Ghee-2 tsp
Roasted chopped brinjal- 1 cup
Red chilies-2 slit
Green chilies-2 chopped
Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp
Onion-1 big fine chopped
Tomato- 2 small chopped
Soya granules-1/2 cup soaked in warm water for 10 min.
Green peas-1/4 cup boiled
Salt to taste
Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Garam masala-1/2 tsp
Kasuri methi-1 tsp
Roasted crushed peanuts- 2 tbsp.
Fresh coriander leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped
Lime juice- 2 tsp add and serve.
Water-1/2 cup
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the fusion bhartha as listed.
2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the jeera, red chilies, green chilies, onions and saute them to light brown. Add in the tomatoes and all masalas, salt and Kasuri methi and bhunao for 2-3 mins, add little water and allow to cook on low flame for 2-3 mins.
3. Add in the drained soy granules, peas and roasted chopped brinjal and mix all well in the kadai. Allow to simmer for 12-15 mins.
4. Finally add the roasted crushed peanuts and coriander leaves and serve hot with a splash of fresh lime juice.
Recipe-4] MEXI SPICED BRINJAL DIP
Ingredients
Oil- 1 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Garlic-1 tsp chopped
Green chilies- 1 tsp chopped
Onion-1 small chopped
Tomatoes-1 small chopped
Roasted brinjal-1 cup mashed
Salt and pepper to taste
Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp
Chili flakes-1/2 tsp
Mexican jalapeno chilies- 2-3 sliced.
Mexican peri peri spice-1 tsp
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Toasted white sesame seeds-1 tsp
Lime juice -2 tsp
Peanut butter- 2 tsp mixed with ¼ cup warm water.
Grated cheese/ cream cheese- 2 tsp.
Coriander leaves- 2 tsp chopped.
To serve with garlic bread/ toast/ nacho chips.
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the brinjal dip.
2. Heat oil and butter in a pan and saute the garlic, onions, chilies for 2-3 mins, add in the tomatoes and salt and mix well
3. Now add in the roasted chopped brinjal and all other ingredients and mix well, allow to simmer for 8-10 mins.
4. Finally add in the sliced jalapenos, toasted sesame seeds, coriander, lime juice, cheese and mix well, serve it with assorted bread, etc as a snack.
Recipe- 5] ASIAN STYLE MARINATED BRINJAL
Ingredients:
Brinjal- 4-5 no cut into strips/sticks
Carrots-1 no sliced
Small baby onions- 4-5 no
Garlic cloves- 4-5 no cut 1x2
Oil-2 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Red/yellow capsicums-1/2 cup sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
White vinegar-2 tsp
Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp
Chili flakes-1/2 tsp
Schezuan sauce- 2 tsp
Spring onions greens- 2 tbsp. chopped
White wine- 2 tbsp.
Lime juice- 2 tsp
Honey-2 tsp
Chopped nuts- 2 tsp assorted.
Raisins-2 tsp
Method:
1. Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
2. Heat oil and butter in a pan and add in the onions and garlic and saute for 15 seconds. Add in the brinjal and carrots, capsicums and any other veggies as well as per choice, cover and cook on a low flame for 4-5 mins.
3.Add in the salt, pepper, herbs, chili flakes and all other ingredients one by one including honey, wine, vinegar etc and allow to cook on a low flame for 6-8 mins.
4. Finally add in the nuts and greens and mix well. This recipe can be served warm or cold as well as a salad or starter as well.
