Baingan ka Bharta - Pakistani baba ganoush

In Pakistan aubergines - Baingan (in Urdu) are available only in peak summer season. May be thats why unconsciously i have always associated baingan bharta with Pakistan’s peak summer. The word Bharta in Urdu means Mashed. Essentially roasted aubergines are mashed and spiced in this recipe. Bharta was served at lunch with hot chappati - flat bread and salty lassi drink which would automatically put you in a nap mood. The long summer days and intense heat in Pakistan would make everyone lazy and sleepy after lunch. A dark corner or an air conditioned room was all that one needed after lunch. 

Ammi would slowly char the round purple aubergines on her gas stove over open flame. The whole house would smell of it. I roast the aubergines in my oven as i don't have an open flame stove. The result is pretty close to ammi's version except the intense smoky smell open flame charring adds to the vegetable. Here is to the memory of Long Pakistani summers, the open flame cooking, being home for lunch every day and afternoon naps in little cool corners.

Ingredients:

Roasted Aubergine  (Baingan) – 250 grams (without skin – see the photos.)

Oil - 4 tbsp

Tomatoes – 1 cup finely chopped

Onions – 1 cup finely chopped

Green chilies – 1 medium chopped (mild)

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp (lightly crushed in a pestle mortar)

Fenugreek seeds (Methi danay) – 1 tsp

Dried red chilies – whole - 2

Red chili powder – ½ tsp

Cumin Powder – ½ tsp

Turmeric – ¼ tsp

Salt – 1 tsp (adjust later if needed)

Lemon – Juice for ½ lemon (optional)

Method:

1. Roast the whole aubergines in an oven for 45 mins at 180 degrees. Put them in water for 5 mins while hot. It will loosen the skin and make the flesh easily removable from the skin. Open the aubergine with your hand & scoop the cooked flesh with a spoon. See the photos. Any Turkish grocer will have roasted aubergines sold in a bottle. You can use those as well.
2. In a pan heat the oil. Add cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds,whole red chilies and cook for about a minute on medium to high heat. Let them crackle.
3. Add chopped onions and saute for another minute. Do not brown them.
4. Now add chopped tomatoes and cook for 3-5 mins. Add a splash of water to loosen the tomatoes.
5. Add salt, chili powder and cumin powder. Cook for a minute more. Don’t let it burn.
6. Add the roasted (mashed) aubergines. Mix and cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes.
7. Now reduce the heat to low, add half of chopped chilies and cover with a lid. Let it cook for 20 mins.
8. Once the oil comes out on the sides in the pan, garnish with fresh chopped coriander and chopped chilies. Serve hot. You can add a bit of lemon juice on the top if you like.