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Easy Baingan Bharta (Smoky eggplant stir-fry)

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This easy baingan bharta recipe is going to be a sure shot hit at home! Baingan (eggplant/aubergine) is studded with garlic and roasted on an open flame, and then stir-fried with aromatics for the most delicious smoky flavour.

Easy Baingan Bharta topped with chopped coriander. This has a smoky flavour and is made by fire roasting aubergine/ brinjal/ eggplant.

I’m a massive baingan bharta snob because there is nothing appetising about pulpy eggplant or baingan. Bharta can either be slimy boring or it can be smoky amazing and I vote for you-know-what!

Of course I have a mom and grandma who make some epic baingan bharta and therefore – high standards. I’ve even managed to convert Denver who has usually takes one look at this dish and runs to the other corner.

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But baingan bharta has a lot going for it. I love brinjal or aubergines or eggplant – whatever you call it in your part of the world, and this is definitely one of my favourite ways to eat it. Because there is something about roasting baingan on an open fire in its skin that just changes everything and gives it an incredible flavour. It’s top notch BBQ style.

Roasting baingan on an open flame for baingan bharta

I have experimented with this recipe over and over again and my conclusion is to keep it simple. The ingredient list isn’t super long but there are a few things that make a great recipe.

Top tips for an amazing Baingan Bharta

Choose the right baingan: Pick a baingan/ eggplant/ aubergine thats big and roundish without any indentations and has a shiny skin. Hold it in your hand and pick something which feels light compared to the others. The lighter ones have fewer seeds.

Roast it on an open flame: There are no shortcuts to this. The best flavour comes out when you roast it on an open flame (like I do in the video below). Thats when the skin chars and lends it the smoky flavour. I’ve tried roasting it in the oven and microwave but it never tastes the same. You can also roast it on a barbecue grill which will give it a beautiful flavour as well.

Give it time: Be patient while roasting the baingan because it needs to cook from inside. The entire process takes about 8-10 minutes on a medium high flame and you’ll need to turn it every 1-2 minutes for even roasting.

Let it cool before peeling: The baingan will be piping hot once you roast it, so cover it with some foil and let it rest for a few minutes. This creates a bit of steam and loosens the skin. I also like to dunk it in water once I’ve peeled the skin to get rid of any small bits of burnt skin which may still be stuck here and there.

Another picture of the final dish - baingan bharta from the side where you can notice the texture of the recipe

I think every house has their favourite baingan bharta recipe. Mine is grandma approved. We love digging into this with hot, crispy rotis, dal fry and sliced onions.

This makes me realise – there is perfection in this world.

Watch Baingan Bharta Recipe Video (Step by Step)

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This easy baingan bharta recipe is going to be a sure shot hit at home! Baingan (eggplant/aubergine) is studded with garlic and roasted on an open flame, and then stir-fried with aromatics for the most delicious smoky flavour.

Easy Baingan Bharta (Smoky eggplant stir-fry)

★★★★★ 4.8 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Richa
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
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Description

This easy baingan bharta recipe is going to be a sure shot hit at home! Baingan (eggplant/aubergine) is studded with garlic and roasted on an open flame, and then stir-fried with aromatics for the most delicious smoky flavour. Recipe Video ABOVE.

Ingredients

For Roasting:

  • 1 large Eggplant
  • 3 Garlic Cloves

For the Bharta:

  • 3 tablespoons Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Nigella Seeds (Kalonji)
  • 6 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated Ginger
  • 1 Green Chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
  • 2 Tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Roasted Baingan Pulp
  • 1 tablespoon Chopped Coriander

Instructions

  1. Roasting: Cut each clove of garlic in half. Make 6 small slits in the baingan and stuff the slits with the halved garlic cloves. Roast on an open flame for 8-10 minutes, turning the baingan every 1-2 minutes to make sure its roasted well on all sides. The skin should be blistered completely and the baingan should become really soft. You can prick it with a fork or knife to check if its cooked from inside. If not, roast for a few more minutes.
  2. Peeling: Once the baingan is roasted, cover it with foil and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Peel the skin off and submerge it in water to get rid of any extra burnt bits. Remove it from the water, cut off the stem and chop it finely.
  3. Cooking: Heat oil in a pan and add nigella seeds. After 30 seconds, add garlic, ginger, chopped chillies and onions. Stir fry till the onions are soft and add tomatoes, chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric and salt. Mix well, and cover and cook till the tomatoes are soft and pulpy. Add the chopped baingan and mix well. Cover and cook for another 3-4 minutes while stirring occasionally. Add chopped coriander, mix and serve hot.

Notes

  • Its best to use a large baingan/eggplant/aubergine for this recipe. The small variety doesn’t have the same flavour
  • You can roast the baingan in the oven but the end result will not be smoky
  • Baingan Bharta in the oven: To roast in the oven, make slits in the baingan, stuff the slits with garlic and rub a little oil all over. Roast in a 200C oven for 45-50 minutes. Then follow instructions from Step 2 in the recipe
This easy baingan bharta recipe is one of those Indian curries thats going to be a sure shot hit at home! Baingan (eggplant/aubergine) is studded with garlic and roasted on an open flame, and then stir-fried with aromatics for the most delicious smoky flavour. Directions for making it in the oven too.
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Comments

  1. It did turn out yum, but I think a bit of tanginess was missing. May be we need to add a dash of lime or sprinkle some amchur?

    ★★★★

    Reply

  2. How does garlic help when we add it while roasting brinjal on the gas? I have been roasting without garlic
    Will surely try this today.

    Reply

  3. At first, I was a little intimidated about making the sauce from chopped tomatoes (instead of just using tomato paste and other ingredients), but I had some extra time after work to try something new (we love Indian, but I’m a beginner). I made your recipe last night, and it was a beautiful creation. I used the gas grill to grill the eggplants on low for 20 minutes (turning frequently), and they turned out with the smoky flavor. . . and my sauce turned out great. Your recipe wasn’t hard to follow.. My husband said it tasted just like at the Indian restaurant we frequent (which is a HUGE compliment for a beginner in this quisine). Thank you so much for the video and sharing your recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • So glad you and your husband liked it Ravyn! Thanks for sharing the tip about using your gas grill to grill the eggplants – I’m sure that’ll help other readers!

      Reply

  4. I was craving this dish and was looking for an easy recipe – your’s fit the bill! Thanks, super easy and super delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. Hi. Thank u for this recipe. It came out very good. Simple but lots of complex flavors. I especially liked the smokiness that was imparted by the gas flame. I added a touch of lemon juice but I dont think it was necessary.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  8. Oh I also wanted to note that I used cumin seeds since I don’t have any nigella, and about half a can of diced tomatoes – in case any future makers are wondering!

    Reply

  9. This is so delicious! I ordered baingan bharta from a restaurant once before and loved it, so I was too happy to find your recipe. My version came out a lot drier than the restaurant one, and seems drier than the one in your picture, but it was still really yummy and I’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Hahaha, each to his own Shweta. I love the flavour of kalonji seeds, but if you don’t like them, just leave them out next time or use jeera (cumin seeds) to make this baingan bharta.

      Reply

  11. Amazing! Just cleaning up from having had it for dinner with my family with some garlic naan. Made it on a whim as I happened to have a large eggplant at home that was in a box of vegetables I received with our weekly CSA delivery and was looking for something to make with it. I found this recipe by chance made it and getting back slaps and kudos, so thank you! Any tips for cleaning the stove after?

    Reply

    • Thanks Dorota. I’m really glad you enjoyed baingan bharta – its one of our favourites! To clean the stove, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar works really well.

      Reply

  12. Top recipe! I’ve made this twice and love it. I used jeera seeds instead o nigella seeds. Going forward , I’m gonna use less chilly and use two aubergines instead of one.

    Reply

  13. I liked this recipe but I was hoping to get the Bharta flavor like from any Indian restaurant. What should I add next time ?

    Reply

    • The restaurant like flavour comes from many things – the utensils they use, use of more oil and premade curries. I’m sorry but I love this recipe the way it is because its more authentic like this. So I can’t help you make changes here.

      Reply

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