Bagara Baingan is a flavorful, tasty curry made with small eggplants in a tangy, creamy gravy made with coconut, peanuts, sesame seeds, tamarind, and Indian spices. This vegan and gluten-free eggplant dish is a specialty of Hyderabadi delicacies and is commonly served with any variety of totally different Biryani recipes.

About Bagara Baingan
Bagara is the Hyderabadi phrase for tempering or “tadka,” which is solely blooming spices in scorching oil. Whereas Baingan is the Hindi phrase for brinjal (a.okay.a. aubergine or eggplant). As such, Bagara Baingan roughly interprets to “eggplant that’s tempered.”
This widespread vegetarian recipe from the Hyderabadi delicacies is commonly made to function a facet dish with Biryani, Roti, and even plain rice. This Hyderabadi Bagara Baingan recipe has 3 of my favourite components in them: coconut, sesame seeds, and peanuts.
To make this preparation, roasted spices, nuts and seeds are floor to a creamy high quality consistency which is then cooked additional with sautéed eggplants.
This recipe is customized from Chandra Padmanabhan’s cookbook Merely South: Conventional Vegetarian Cooking. This guide has many good recipes together with types of sambar, rasam, greens and rice recipes.
India is a rustic with a number of cuisines which might be separated by regional variations in local weather, topography, in addition to cultures and traditions.
Everyone knows that the North Indian delicacies is totally different from South Indian delicacies, however even the cuisines of the totally different components of a area can fluctuate broadly, like how the delicacies of Karnataka is totally different from Kerala delicacies.
Variations in culinary traditions may even fluctuate amongst the identical state, like Andhra Pradesh which has each the Andhra Delicacies and the Hyderabadi Delicacies, that are completely totally different from each other.
Due to the Nizams of Hyderabad who invented the wealthy and elaborate Hyderabadi delicacies, this type of cooking could be very widespread each inside India in addition to on the planet at massive. The Bagara Baingan recipe is one such gem from this delicacies.
Step-by-Step Information
Learn how to Make Bagara Baingan
As you’ll be able to think about, a dish like Bagara Baingan wants some prep work to get a number of parts prepared earlier than you lastly assemble all of them. I’m positive you’ll have the ability to grasp the recipe, particularly for those who observe together with my step-by-step directions and pictures beneath. Right here’s the way it’s carried out:
Prep Components
1. Rinse 250 grams small-sized baingan (a.okay.a. small aubergines or eggplants) 2 to three instances in water. Drain the water.
Guarantee to make the recipe with solely the smaller number of eggplants. Bigger-sized eggplants that we use to make baingan bharta or baba ganoush, don’t work effectively on this recipe.

2. Quarter the brinjals and soak them in salted water for 15 to twenty minutes. Drain after 15 to twenty minutes, discarding the salted water.
Soaking them in salted water removes any bitterness and likewise prevents discoloration.
I often chop the eggplants, however you’ll be able to hold them complete (with the stems) – minimize them on 4 sides from the bottom until you attain the highest half. Pull aside the minimize sides and test for worms or any bugs. Soak the brinjals that aren’t infested within the salted water.

3. In the meantime, measure out the next spices and set them apart:
- 2 tablespoons uncooked peanuts
- 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds – skip for those who shouldn’t have
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 to three cloves
- 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera)
- 1 black cardamom

Roast and Make Masala
4. Warmth a frying pan or skillet and hold the flame to a low. Add the entire above spices, nuts and seeds.
Stir and start to roast them until they turn into fragrant and lightweight brown.

5. When the spices turn into gentle brown, add 2 tablespoons of desiccated coconut to the identical pan.

6. Roast the spices with the coconut. A beautiful aroma of roasted spices and coconut will fill your kitchen. Preserve stirring continuous.

7. Roast until the coconut turns into gentle golden. Switch to a plate and let this combination cool.

8. As soon as the spices, nuts, seeds and coconut combination cools down, then add this combination to a grinder or a high-speed blender.

9. Additionally add the next components (along with the roasted combination) to the grinder or the high-speed blender:
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 teaspoons chopped ginger or 1 inch ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic or 4 to five medium-sized garlic cloves
- 2 to three inexperienced chilies, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
- 1 tablespoon tightly packed seedless tamarind
Grind to a high quality and easy paste with ½ to ⅔ cup water. Be sure that there are not any chunks of any of the components within the masala paste.
Observe: If you happen to desire your gravy be much less bitter, add solely ½ tablespoon tightly packed tamarind.

Cook dinner Eggplant
10. In a pan warmth 2 tablespoons oil over medium warmth. When the oil is shimmering, add the quartered brinjals.

11. Subsequent add salt as required.

12. Sauté on a low warmth for 10 to 12 minutes stirring as wanted.

13. That is how the brinjal takes care of 12 minutes. They need to turn into tender. Use a knife or fork to test for doneness; the knife ought to slide simply by way of them.

14. Take away the cooked eggplant and put aside.

Make Bagara Baingan
15. In one other pan (or in the identical pan, if you wish to minimize down on dishes) warmth 2 tablespoons oil.

16. Decrease the warmth. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
At this level you may also add ½ teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji) and 10 to 12 fenugreek seeds.

17. Now add the bottom coconut masala paste. Additionally add ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon kashmiri purple chilli powder or ½ teaspoon purple chilli powder and eight to 9 curry leaves.
Observe that the including purple chilli powder and curry leaves are elective.

19. Combine effectively and start to sauté the masala paste on low to medium-low warmth.

20. That is how the masala paste takes care of sautéing for 10 minutes. As you’ll be able to see, it has thickened. The oil will even start to separate.

21. Sauté the paste stirring typically till the oil begins to launch from the perimeters of the masala. Sautéing the masala paste takes a few whole of 9 to 10 minutes.

22. Now add 1.5 cups water.

23. Stir and blend completely.

24. Add salt as required.

25. Add the cooked brinjals to the curry.

26. Stir and blend effectively. Simmer for six to 7 minutes extra, or until the curry thickens.

27. You need to see some specks of oil floating on the highest.

28. Test the style of eggplant curry and add extra salt if required. Add 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. Combine effectively.

29. Serve Bagara Baingan scorching with Roti, Paratha, Poori, rice, or, extra historically, with Hyderabadi Biryani.
You can even pair it with Jeera Rice or Veg Pulao or Ghee Rice.

FAQs
You might be welcome to skip the step of sautéing the eggplant individually, and as an alternative simmer it within the gravy. Nevertheless, please word that the brinjals will want time to cook dinner all through, so it’s best to add extra water to the gravy for those who plan on cooking it this manner.
Add the brinjals to the gravy, cowl, and cook dinner till knife-tender. You should definitely stir each 3 to 4 minutes to maintain the masala from sticking to the pan and burning.
Positive! Use the identical quantity of contemporary coconut, however word that the flavour might be barely totally different.
Sadly, peanuts are a vital piece of this recipe. If you happen to should, you’ll be able to swap peanuts for uncooked cashews, however the taste might be totally different.
Completely. Merely scale back the quantity of tamarind used to about ½ tablespoon.
Extra Brinjal Recipes To Strive!
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Bagara Baingan (Eggplant Curry For Biryani)
Bagara Baingan is a flavorful, tasty curry made with small aubergines in a medley of coconut, peanuts, sesame seeds, tamarind and spices. This vegan and gluten-free eggplant dish is a specialty of Hyderabadi delicacies and is commonly served with Biryani.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook dinner Time 40 minutes
Whole Time 1 hr
Stop your display from going darkish whereas making the recipe
Making masala paste
Warmth a frying pan or skillet or tawa and roast the next components on low to medium-low warmth – peanuts, white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, tej patta, black peppercorns, caraway seeds and black cardamom.
When the spices turn into a light-weight brown and are aromatic, add desiccated coconut.
Combine and proceed to roast the spices with the coconut. A beautiful aroma of the roasted spices and coconut will fill your kitchen.
Roast until the coconut will get gentle golden.
Switch to a plate and let the combination cool.
As soon as the spices + seeds + coconut combination cools, add it to a high-speed blender or grinder. Additionally add chopped onions, ginger, garlic, inexperienced chilies, coriander leaves and tamarind .
Grind to a high quality and easy paste with ½ to ⅔ cups of water.
Cooking brinjal
Rinse the brinjals first a number of instances in water. Quarter them and soak them in salted water for 15 to twenty minutes.
Drain water after 15 to twenty minutes. In a pan warmth 2 tablespoons oil and add the chopped eggplants and 1 teaspoon salt. Sauté over low warmth for 8 to 10 minutes.
The brinjals ought to turn into fork tender. Set them apart.
Making bagara baingan
- In one other pan or in the identical pan warmth the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.At this step you’ll be able to choose so as to add ½ teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji) and 10 to 12 fenugreek seeds.
Add the bottom masala paste. Additionally add turmeric powder, purple chilli powder and curry leaves.
Combine completely and sauté the masala.
Saute the paste stirring typically for about 9 to 10 minutes or until the oil begins to launch from the perimeters.
Subsequent add 1.5 cups water. Combine completely to get a good consistency. Add salt as required and the cooked sautéed eggplants.
Simmer for six to 7 minutes or until the curry thickens and also you see oil floating on prime.
Test the style of the curry and add extra salt if wanted. Add coriander leaves and blend effectively.
- Serve Bagara Baingan scorching with roti, phulka, paratha, poori or rice or biryani. This brinjal curry pairs very effectively as a facet dish with Biryani.
- Be sure that to make use of smaller number of brinjals to make Bagara Baingan. You’ll be able to simply use the small number of brinjals which has small thorns on the stem. Don’t make the recipe with massive sized eggplants.
- The nuts, seeds and coconut must be contemporary and never rancid.
- For a much less spicy style, scale back the variety of inexperienced chillies and omit including purple chilli powder.
- To make a much less tangy curry, scale back the quantity of tamarind to ½ tablespoon. You may additionally choose to interchange tamarind with 2 medium-sized tomatoes. Observe that with tomatoes, the style will change.
Diet Information
Bagara Baingan (Eggplant Curry For Biryani)
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 218 Energy from Fats 153
% Every day Worth*
Fats 17g26%
Saturated Fats 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fats 2g
Monounsaturated Fats 11g
Sodium 380mg17%
Potassium 327mg9%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Vitamin E 5mg33%
Vitamin Ok 5µg5%
Calcium 99mg10%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 35µg9%
Iron 2mg11%
Magnesium 52mg13%
Phosphorus 95mg10%
Zinc 1mg7%
* % Every day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight loss plan.
This Bagara Baingan recipe from the archives first revealed in April 2011 has been republished and up to date on November 2022.