Baingan Bharta recipe is a delicious eggplant mash made with fire-roasted large aubergines and seasoned with onions, tomatoes, chillies and spices. It is finger-licking delicious. Shared Air fryer recipe too.
Make gashes on eggplant. Insert some garlic cloves (optional)
Roast the eggplant on fire till they are charred on the outside and well cooked on the inside. Takes about 5-7 minutes per eggplant.
For Air fryer
Preheat Air fryer at 200 C or 390 F for 4-5 minutes. Apply some oil on the eggplant and poke with fork or make some gashes with knife.
Air fry for about 20-22 minutes till the eggplant looks squishy. Poke with a knife to see if it is soft. If it is then it is done.
If you have larger eggplants then you may need more time.
To Make Bharta or Mash
Let them cool and then peel off the burnt skin. Finely chop or mash the pulp (with the garlic if using) and keep aside.
Now take mustard oil in a pan. Put in cumin seeds and allow them to sputter.
Add onions and ginger-garlic-chillies chopped. Cook for a few minutes till onions are transparent and slightly golden.
Now add the tomatoes and cook some more till they have released their water.
Add in the egg[;amt pulp and all the spices including salt. Mix well.
Cover and cook for about 5 minutes till everything seems well integrated. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Garnish with cilantro leaves. Your baingan ka bharta is ready. Serve hot.
Notes
1. The eggplant must be well cooked.2. If using Air fryer, you could also cover in foil and then air fry. Air frying helps in cutting down the mess and also does a quick job.3.Have baingan ka bharta with hot rotis smeared with ghee. Absolute bliss.4. Adjust the spices as per your taste. This recipe is spicy.