Baingan Bharta

Baingan bharta- a  north indian vegetarian dish made from roasted and mashed brinjals.As a child i used to think that baingan bharta is a very complicated dish and hence available only in restaurants.The little south indian me found the whole process of roasting as something beyond reach.Only much later did i realise that baingan bharta is simple and when i first made it some years back,i realised that it was not simple but super simple.It was easy and delicious.The smoky taste from the roasting is one of the high points of the dish for me.Baingan bharta is now a regular dish in my home and is one of N's favourites.. and mine too.So going on to how i made this delicious dish.




Ingredients

1 big brinjal( the ones available in market for bharta)
2 medium sized onions
2 tomatoes-1/2 chopped rest blended
1 1/2 tspn cumin seeds
2 tbsp oil
1 tspn ginger paste
1 tspn garlic paste
1/2 tspn green chilli paste
 1/2 tspn turmeric powder
1/2 tspn kashmiri  chilli powder
1- 1/2 tspn coriander powder
1 to 1 1/2 tspn  spice masala(i used arabic spice masala instead of garam masala)
1 tspn cumin powder
Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Add caption

How i made it

Roast the brinjal on stove top or grill in microwave till he skin is wrinkly and charred and the brinjal becomes soft from inside.Let it cool.Once cooled mash it well.
Heat a pan and pour the refined oil .Then add in the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
Now add onions and saute till golden colour.
Add in the ginger,garlic and green chilli paste and when the raw smell is gone  pour in the blended tomato.
Also add in all powders- turmeric,coriander,kashmiri red chilli ,spice masala and the cumin powder.
Let all the spices mix well and the blended tomato be reduced in quantity.
Now add in the mashed brinjal and let it blend well .
Add in the chopped tomato and let it turn slightly soft.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with chapathi.You may also serve it with rice as  a side dish.

Notes:I sometimes squeeze a little lemon for extra tanginess.
          If you dont get the big brinjal you may use 3 -4 medium sized brinjals.