Eggplant Bharta

Ingredients

2 eggplants eggplants

2 tablespoons oil

1 onion, chopped

3 hot chiles, minced, and seeded if you want less heat

2 teaspoons ginger root, minced

2 garlic cloves minced

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

14 chopped tomatoes, drained

Salt

Cayenne pepper (optional)

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Preparation

Roast, broil or grill the eggplants, then peel them. Chop the eggplant pulp fine with a knife or in a food processor.

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook over medium heat until it begins to brown, 7 minutes.

Add the jalapenos, ginger and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring. Stir in the coriander, cumin and turmeric, followed by the tomatoes.

Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat until thickened, 7 minutes.

Add the eggplant, salt and cayenne pepper to taste and cook, stirring often, until the mixture is thick, 5 to 10 minutes.

Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve the eggplant hot, cold or at room temperature, spooned into a shallow bowl and sprinkled with cilantro.

This recipe yields 4 to 6 servings.

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About

Comments: After your eggplant is cooked, this savory side dish accented with fresh ginger, garlic and spices is simple to make. It has long been one of the dishes I love most, and I enjoy discovering new versions. Rakhi Singh, a woman from Patna in northeast India whom I met recently while eggplant shopping, told me her variations on her region's beloved dish. Tiny green Thai bird chiles are her preference for lending heat to her bharta; when she can't get them, she opts for jalapenos or serranos. Unlike most cooks in India, she uses olive oil instead of vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter) for sauteing her onions. More surprising was her shortcut - she microwaves cubed eggplant instead of grilling it whole. You can serve it hot with rice or meat dishes, as they do in Indian restaurants. In our family, we also love it cold as an appetizer with crusty bread, pita or warm naan.