Baingan Bharta

Brinjal (Eggplant) is one vegetable that many people dislike and its no different in our house. I don't remember having cooked brinjal more than 1-2 times in the past one year..... But this recipe that I got from one of my friends is so good, that Naveen doesn't seem to mind Brinjals anymore!! :-) . I plan to make it more often from now on. Hope you like it too!

Ingredients:

1 Large Brinjal(Eggplant)

1 Onion finely chopped

1 Tomato finely chopped

1tsp Ginger/Ginger-garlic paste

1tsp Garam masala

1tsp Chilli powder

1tsp Ajwain powder (Om seeds)

1tsp Dhania powder (Coriander powder)

3tsp Oil

1tsp Jeera

1tsp Lime juice

sat as per taste

Method:

1. Grease the brinjal with some oil all over. Make 5-6 cuts on the surface with a knife.
2. Preheat the oven to 375F and bake the brinjal until it is competely cooked and soft.Note: If you do not have an oven, u can even cook the brinjal on the stove in a covered vessel with some oil. Remember to saute frequently.
3. Remove the brinjal from the oven and let it cool down. After it cools, remove the skin and mash the brinjal with a potato masher or a spoon.
4. In the meanwhile, heat the oil in a kadai and add jeera and ginger-garlic paste
5. Add the chopped onions after the seeds splutter and fry till they become transparent.
6. Add tomatoes when the onions are almost done. Add a little water and cook covered for about 2 mins.
7. Add the mashed brinjal to the above mixture. You can add water to get the consistency you need.
8. Add all the remaining dry masalas and cook for another 2 mins.
9. Remove from stove, add the lime juice and mix well.
10. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rotis/chapatis.