I am getting increasingly lazy these days. I feel like I have lost the mojo to try out new stuff with as much frequency as I used to or click pictures with as much interest. I have about 4 food photography basics posts in my drafts just lying there because I have to edit and upload pictures to go as examples with the posts. I also haven't been visiting as many blogs as I used to and my unread blogs list on reader just keeps getting longer and longer.
I made this Bagara Baingan ages ago. Its loosely based on a recipe I saw in a Nita Mehta book at the library. I didn't borrow it so made this based on what I could remember from her recipe. The amount of ingredients are all my own approximation but it turned out very tasty, a perfect combo with roti, pulao or biryani (like they serve it in Hyderabad).
Ok now for the step by step. First, dry roast about 2 tbsp of white sesame seeds / til / ellu until golden brown. Set aside.
Then, dry roast 2 tbsp peanuts until roasted and brown. Mine was raw and unsalted so if you are going to use the salted kind, then make sure you keep that in mind while adding salt to the final dish. Set aside.
Next, heat 1 tbsp oil in the same kadai and throw in the washed and slit baby brinjal. We are using the same kind used for ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu. Fry until soft and set aside.
In the same oil, add 1 onion, chopped fine.
To this, add a 1" piece ginger and 2 garlic pods ground together. Alternately, add 2 tsp readymade ginger garlic paste.
While you let that fry, grind the sesame and peanuts with 2 tbsp grated coconut to a smooth paste.
Which looks like this. Yes, you can add a little bit of water while grinding.
By now, the onions would have started to brown. Add the ground paste and mix well.
To this, add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp jeera, 1 tbsp coriander powder and 1-2 tsp red chilli powder, with salt.
Mix well and stir for a minute until the paste thickens.
I know this looks kinda gross so let's quickly get this over with. Add the tamarind water made with a small lemon sized ball of tamarind and 1 cup warm water. Ok next step, quick!
*Please ignore the stains on my stove. They are from a dish I made just before this. Thank you*
Ah, not so bad once its mixed. So mix well and then..
.. add the fried baby brinjal.
Cook closed for 5-10 mins until the gravy thickens.
Serve warm with a garnish of chopped coriander leaves. This tasted really really good and I really think I should make more curries with roasted peanut paste as the base. The sesame really helps enhance the taste too!
The recipe, all in one place now (sigh..)
Bagara Baingan Recipe
Serves: 2
What I Used:
6 purple baby brinjals
2 tbsp white sesame seeds
2 tbsp peanuts
2 tbsp grated coconut
1 onion, chopped fine
1" piece of ginger
2 garlic pods (or 2 tsp ginger garlic paste)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander powder/malli podi
1 tsp red chilli powder (or to taste)
A small lemon sized ball of tamarind
1 tbsp oil
Salt
Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
How I Made It:
1. Dry roast the peanuts and sesame seeds separately until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Then, grind together with the coconut and little water to form a smooth paste.
2. Extract the tamarind paste in 1 cup warm water. Grind the ginger and garlic together if using fresh gg paste.
3. Fry the brinjals in oil until soft but still holds shape. Drain and set aside. In the same oil, fry the onions and ginger garlic paste until golden. Then add the ground paste and fry for a minute.
4. To this, add turmeric powder, chilli powder, jeera, coriander powder and salt. Mix well and fry for another minute.
5. Add the tamarind water, mix, then add the brinjals and cook closed for 5-10 mins. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.
Ranjani made a video of this recipe so if you want to check it, click here.
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