Baingan bharta

Baingan bharta (mashed eggplant) is a dish from the Indian subcontinent that originated in the Punjab region. Baingan ka bharta is a part of the cuisine of some nation states of the Indian subcontinent. It is a vegetarian dish that is prepared by mincing eggplant (baingan) that is grilled over charcoal or direct fire. This infuses the dish with a smoky flavour. The smoked and mashed eggplant is then mixed with cooked chopped tomato, browned onion, ginger, garlic, cumin, fresh cilantro (coriander leaves), chili pepper, and mustard oil or a neutral vegetable oil.[1] Traditionally, the dish is often eaten with flatbread (specifically roti or paratha) and is also served with rice or raita, a yogurt salad. In states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, it is served hot with litti or baati.

Baingan bharta
Region or stateIndian subcontinent
Main ingredientsEggplant, with onions, tomatoes and spices

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, baingan bharta is part of popular cuisine, while in India, it is part of the cuisines of many states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Names

The dish has several regional names, such as: baingan ka bhurtha (Hindi: बैंगन का भरता, Urdu: بینگن کا بھرتہ‎, baingan da bhurtha (Punjabi), ringan no oro (Gujarati: રીંગણનો ઓળો), pura begena chatoni (Assamese: পুৰা বেঙেনা চাটনি), wangyacha bharit (Marathi: वांग्याचं भरीत), ennegayi (Kannada: ಎಣ್ಣೆಗಾಯಿ), begun bhôrta (Bengali: বেগুন ভর্তা), baingoin satni (Sylheti) and olo (Gujarati).

Variants

Some non-Punjabi variants may omit the tomato and sometimes the onion as well.

In Gujarat, it is called Ringan No Oro (Gujarati: રીંગણનો ઓળો), in which the eggplant is roasted, then mashed, and then sautéed with mustard and cumin seeds, turmeric, red chilli powder, ginger and garlic and salt. It is served with bajra no rotlo (Gujarati: બાજરાંનો રોટલો), kadhi (a soup prepared by gram flour, curd and spices), khichadi and chhaash (Gujarati: છાશ) (buttermilk).

In Karnataka, it is called eṇṇegāyi and prepared by boiling and frying whole eggplant usually served with akki rotti. In the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Tamils prepare a similar dish called kathrikai thayir kothsu, in which the eggplant is cooked, mashed, and sautéed with mustard, red chilis and sesame oil. The final step in the recipe involves adding yogurt (curds) to the mixture and dressing the dish with coriander leaves.

In the Bhojpuri-speaking regions of India (such as eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar), it is known as baigan ka chokha; it is also popular within the Indo-Caribbean communities of Trinidad, Suriname, and Guyana, where many descendants of indentured labourers from northern India live.

In Maharashtra, especially in the northern Khandesh region, vangyache bharit as they call it is served in social gatherings including wedding ceremonies. During harvest season, a special "bharit party" is organised. Bharit is usually served with puri. In the Vidarbha and Khandesh regions of Maharashtra, two variants are popular: kachha ("raw") bharit and phodni cha (with tadka) bharit. In kachha bharit, all the ingredients except for eggplant are used uncooked. Raw spring onion, tomato, green chillies, green coriander, and sometimes fresh fenugreek leaves are mixed with flame-roasted eggplant along with raw linseed oil or peanut oil. In phodni cha bharit, the above ingredients are first fried in oil with spices; then, mashed eggplants are mixed into it and cooked together. The similar process is followed in other Indian states and Pakistan with slight variations on ingredients. In Vidarbha and Khandesh, it is considered a delicacy when the eggplants are roasted on a dried cotton plant stems, a process which gives a distinct smokey flavour to the dish. The dish is served with dal, bhakri, and rice.

Eggplant is popular in Afghanistan in the form of a traditional salad called "bonjan salad", which is usually served at room temperature (or cold) together with main dishes. The dish is served with a variety of breads and is similar to another Afghani dish called baingan ka raita (Urdu: بینگن کا رائتہ‎).

There are many variations of preparing eggplant.[2]

Protest symbol

In a protest against BT Brinjal and the introduction of genetically modified crops, volunteers from Greenpeace and Delhi's Le Méridien hotel cooked 342 kilograms (754 lb) of organic brinjal bharta at Dilli Haat, New Delhi, on 6 September 2011. This set a world record for the largest amount of the dish produced in one occasion of preparation. A portion of the final dish was sent to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, accompanied by a letter of protest containing an explanation.[3][4]

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See also

References
  1. Jaffrey, Madhur (1981). World of the East Vegetarian Cooking. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-40271-5.
  2. Jaffrey, Madhur (2011). An Invitation to Indian Cooking. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-375-71211-1.
  3. "Protesters say no to BT Brinjal in a unique way". Hindustan Times. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013.
  4. "Giant Baigan ka Bharta makes for a delicious record". The Times of India. 7 September 2011.
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