Egg Plant (Baingan) Bhartha

This was made by AG.  It was super-tasty and not like any bhartha that I had eaten before.  If you like egg plant then you should try this one.

Ingredients:
Brinjal (Egg plant) - 2 fairly large

Onion - 2 chopped

Oil - 2-3 tbsp

Cloves - 2

Bay leaf - 1

Ginger-Garlic paste - 2 tsp 

Jeera (Cumin seed) - 1tsp

Mustard - 1 tsp

Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric - 3/4 tsp

Green chilies - 2 nos chopped

Red chili powder - 1  tsp - depending on how spicy you would like it to be

Tomatoes - 1 can chopped tomatoes or 3 large tomatoes 

Curry leaves - few

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves for garnish.

Roast the egg plant either over a flame till the skin browns and shrivels and it can be peeled off easily. ( or bake / scald over a pan )

Once peeled, chop and mash and keep aside

Take wok, add oil, jeera, mustard - allow to pop

Put in the cloves, bayleaf, chopped onions and cook till slightly golden brown

Add green chillies, curry leaves 

Add ginger garlic paste and turmeric. Sauté for 2 mins

Add jeera, dhania, red chilli powders.

Add 75 ml of water and cover and simmer on medium heat for 10 mins till you see the oil separating

Add a can of chopped tomatoes ( or regular tomatoes)

Cook again on a slow fire till it becomes a thick paste

Add the mashed egg plant to the paste, blend it in , add salt to taste, and allow it to cook in the mixture for a further 5 mins.  

Garnish with coriander.