A classic Punjabi dish featuring smoky, fire-roasted eggplant mashed and cooked with a flavorful blend of onions, tomatoes, and aromatic spices. It's rustic, hearty, and pairs perfectly with hot rotis.
Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
Serving size: 1 cup
215cal
4gprotein
25gcarbs
13g
Ingredients
1 large Eggplant (approx 800g, globe variety)
3 tbsp Mustard Oil
1 tsp Vegetable Oil (for greasing the eggplant)
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 medium Onion (finely chopped)
1 inch Ginger (finely chopped or grated)
6 cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
2 pcs Green Chili (finely chopped, adjust to taste)
Soft, unleavened whole wheat flatbread, a daily staple in Indian households. Perfect for scooping up curries and dals, this simple, wholesome bread is puffed up on an open flame for that classic, airy texture.
A comforting and classic North Indian lentil dish. Creamy yellow lentils are cooked until tender and then topped with a fragrant tempering of spices sizzled in ghee. Perfect with steamed rice or roti.
Smoky Baingan Bharta with soft rotis & hearty dal. A soul-satisfying, energy-giving comfort food.
This indian and north_indian dish is perfect for lunch. With 668.5699999999999 calories and 22.89g of protein per serving, it's a high-fiber option for your meal plan.
fat
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chili Powder (adjust to spice preference)
1.5 tsp Coriander Powder
1.25 tsp Salt (or to taste)
0.75 tsp Garam Masala
3 tbsp Coriander Leaves (freshly chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Fire-Roast the Eggplant
Wash and thoroughly dry the eggplant. Make 4-5 deep slits lengthwise into the eggplant without cutting all the way through.
Rub 1 tsp of vegetable oil all over the eggplant's skin. This helps the skin char evenly and peel off easily.
Place the eggplant directly on a medium gas flame. Using tongs, rotate it every 2-3 minutes to ensure it cooks evenly on all sides. Continue roasting for 12-15 minutes until the skin is completely blackened and charred, and the flesh feels very soft when poked with a knife.
Carefully remove the eggplant from the flame and place it on a plate. Let it cool for 10 minutes until it's safe to handle.
2
Prepare the Eggplant Pulp
Once the eggplant has cooled, gently peel off all the charred skin. The skin should come off easily. Discard the skin.
Place the roasted eggplant pulp in a bowl. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash it well to a coarse or smooth consistency, as you prefer. Set aside.
3
Sauté the Masala Base
Heat mustard oil in a kadai or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat until it just begins to smoke. This step is important to remove the oil's pungency.
Reduce the heat slightly and add the cumin seeds. Let them sizzle and become fragrant for about 30 seconds.
Add the finely chopped onions and sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and golden brown.
Add the chopped ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Sauté for another minute until the raw aroma disappears.
Add the finely chopped tomatoes and cook for 7-9 minutes, stirring and mashing with your spoon, until they break down completely and become soft and pulpy.
Add the turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Mix well and cook the masala for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate from the mixture at the sides of the pan. This indicates the masala is well-cooked.
4
Combine and Finish the Bharta
Add the mashed eggplant pulp to the cooked masala in the pan.
Stir thoroughly to combine the eggplant with the spices, breaking up any large chunks.
Cook on low-medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the smoky eggplant to absorb all the flavors of the masala.
Sprinkle the garam masala over the bharta and give it a final mix.
5
Garnish and Serve
Turn off the heat. Garnish generously with fresh chopped coriander leaves.
Serve Baingan Bharta hot with fresh roti, paratha, naan, or as a side with dal and rice.
213cal
8gprotein
44gcarbs
2gfat
Ingredients
2 cup atta (Use a fine-milled whole wheat flour for best results.)
1 cup lukewarm water (Adjust quantity as needed; dough should be soft and pliable.)
1 tsp ghee (For the dough, plus extra for brushing (optional).)
Instructions
1
Prepare the dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the atta and 1 tsp of ghee.
Gradually add lukewarm water, a little at a time, mixing with your fingers to form a shaggy dough.
Knead the dough on a clean surface for 8-10 minutes, using the heel of your palm to push and fold until it is smooth, soft, and pliable, but not sticky.
Cover the dough with a damp cloth or a lid and let it rest for at least 20-30 minutes. This step is crucial for relaxing the gluten and ensuring soft rotis.
2
Divide and roll the rotis
After resting, knead the dough for another minute.
Divide the dough into 8 equal-sized portions and roll each into a smooth, crack-free ball.
Take one dough ball, flatten it, and dip it in dry atta for dusting.
On a rolling board, use a rolling pin to roll it into an even circle about 6-7 inches in diameter. Ensure the edges are as thin as the center for proper puffing.
3
Cook the roti
Heat a flat griddle (tawa) over medium-high heat. It's ready when a pinch of flour sprinkled on it sizzles and turns brown in seconds.
Place the rolled roti on the hot tawa. Cook for about 20-30 seconds, until you see small bubbles appear on the surface.
Using tongs, flip the roti. Cook the second side for about 45-60 seconds, until light brown spots appear.
4
Puff the roti
Using tongs, carefully remove the roti from the tawa and place it directly over a medium-high open flame. It should puff up into a ball almost instantly. Flip it once and remove immediately to avoid burning.
Alternatively, if you don't have a gas stove, flip the roti back onto the tawa and gently press the edges with a folded kitchen towel. This traps steam and helps the roti puff up.
Once puffed, immediately remove the roti from the heat.
5
Finish and serve
Brush one side with ghee, if desired, for extra flavor and softness.
Place the finished roti in a casserole dish or a container lined with a clean kitchen towel to keep them soft and warm.
Repeat the process for all remaining dough balls. Serve hot with your favorite dal, curry, or sabzi.
3 cup Water (for pressure cooking, plus more as needed)
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
2 tbsp Ghee (divided)
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
0.5 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
2 pcs Green Chili (slit lengthwise)
1 medium Tomato (finely chopped)
0.25 tsp Hing (asafoetida)
2 pcs Dried Red Chili (whole)
0.5 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder (for color, adjust to taste)
0.5 tsp Garam Masala
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (freshly chopped, for garnish)
1 tsp Lemon Juice (optional, for a tangy finish)
Instructions
1
Pressure Cook the Dal
Rinse the toor dal thoroughly under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain.
Place the rinsed dal in a pressure cooker. Add 3 cups of water, turmeric powder, and 1/2 tsp of salt.
Secure the lid and pressure cook on medium-high heat for 4-5 whistles, or about 15 minutes, until the dal is completely soft and mushy.
Allow the pressure to release naturally. This extra time helps the dal become even creamier.
Once the pressure has subsided, open the cooker and whisk the dal gently until it reaches a smooth, consistent texture. If it's too thick, add a little hot water to reach your desired consistency.
2
Prepare the Masala Base
Heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a separate pan or kadai over medium heat.
Add 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds and let them sizzle.
Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and slit green chilies. Cook for another minute until the raw smell disappears.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the mixture becomes pulpy.
Pour this onion-tomato masala into the cooked dal. Add the garam masala, stir well, and let it simmer on low heat for 5 minutes for the flavors to meld.
3
Prepare the Final Tempering (Tadka)
In a small tadka pan or small skillet, heat the remaining 1 tbsp of ghee over medium heat until hot.
Add the mustard seeds and the remaining 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds. Allow them to crackle and splutter, which should take about 30 seconds.
Add the whole dried red chilies and hing (asafoetida). Sauté for just 10-15 seconds, being careful not to burn them.
Turn off the heat completely. Immediately add the Kashmiri red chili powder to the hot ghee and give it a quick swirl. This prevents the powder from burning and turning bitter.
4
Combine and Serve
Immediately pour the sizzling hot tempering over the simmering dal. You should hear a satisfying sizzle as the tadka hits the dal.
Stir gently to incorporate the tempering. Stir in the optional lemon juice if using.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot with steamed basmati rice, jeera rice, or fresh rotis.