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.