Brinjal is a versatile vegetable, easily available and inexpensive too. Worldwide, there are so many interesting dishes in different cuisines made of brinjal. In North India, there is nothing to beat baingan ka bharta. Ravi Saxena, Corporate Chef, The Claridges Hotels and Resort Groups, has sent in this bharta recipe with a twist. The dish is available at the group’s standalone restaurant Dhaba by Claridges at DLF Saket, New Delhi.
Kanastri baingan bhartaServes 2
Ingredients
1000g big round brinjal
100 ml ghee
20g garlic, chopped
60g onions, chopped
2g cumin seeds
20g ginger, chopped
10 g green chillies, chopped
12g salt
3g Kashmiri red chilli powder
2g turmeric powder
150g tomato, chopped
3g cumin powder
2g garam masala powder
1g kasoori methi powder
2g coriander or dhaniya powder
20 g fresh coriander
Method
Coat the brinjals lightly with oil and roast evenly in a tandoor or on a direct gas flame. Peel the skin off, remove extra seeds by hand if need be (these can make the dish bitter), and mash well.
In a heated pan, take ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and saute on a low flame. Make sure to chop the tomatoes and onions to about the same size. When this mixture is just starting to change colour (be careful not to let it turn dark brown), add the dry spices — dhaniya powder, cumin powder, Kashmiri red chilli, turmeric and salt. Saute lightly. At this stage, add green chillies. Add the mashed brinjal and mix well till the sauteed vegetables and the brinjal become a homogenous mixture. Finish with garam masala powder, kasoori methi powder and fresh coriander. Serve hot in a copper canister and close the lid immediately to preserve the fragrance and flavours.
Ravi Saxena is Corporate Chef, The Claridges Hotels and Resorts Groups.A graduate of IHM, Goa, Chef Ravi comes with over 21 years experience. Prior to joining The Claridges in 2007 as Executive Chef, he was associated withThe Leela, Goa,The Holiday Inn, Pune,Baisan International Hotel, Bahrain,The Imperial, New Delhi,
