Authentic Indian Eggplant Curry Recipes

EGGPLANT CURRY - SOUTH INDIAN BRINJAL CURRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C / 450°F (220°C fan). Line tray with parchment/baking paper.
• Cut eggplant into 2cm / 4/5" slices, then cut into 2cm / 4/5" batons.
• Place in large bowl, toss with oil, salt and pepper.
• Spread on tray, roast 20 minutes. Turn, roast for a further 10 minutes - edges should be caramelised, soft inside, but they're not shrivelled up and dismal. Use per recipe.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, let them sizzle for 15 seconds.
• Add curry leaves, stir, leave to sizzle for 15 seconds - seeds might pop, Indian cooking is very dramatic!
• Add onions, cook 5 minutes until golden brown.
• Add tomato, cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Add garlic and ginger, cook 2 minutes.
• Add Curry Spices and salt, and cook for another 3 minutes - it will be a thick paste and might stick to the bottom of the pot, don't let it burn (if it starts to, remove from stove and quickly add splash of water to loosen).
• Stir in water, and then add the eggplant.
• Gently stir, partially cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. Stir carefully once or twice (so the eggplants don't break up completely), add more water if it dries out.
• Stir in coconut milk, taste then add more salt if needed.
• Your result should be a very thick, juicy, strongly flavoured curry with eggplant partially intact but half collapsed.
• Serve with basmati rice and a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander leaves, if you want.

BAINGAN BHARTA (EGGPLANT CURRY)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place eggplant on a medium baking sheet. Bake 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until tender. Remove from heat, cool, peel, and chop.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix in cumin seeds and onion. Cook and stir until onion is tender.
• Mix ginger garlic paste, curry powder, and tomato into the saucepan, and cook about 1 minute. Stir in yogurt. Mix in eggplant and jalapeno pepper, and season with salt. Cover, and cook 10 minutes over high heat. Remove cover, reduce heat to low, and continue cooking about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro to serve.

EGGPLANT CURRY (INDIAN)

Steps:

• Slice eggplant lenghthwise about 3/4 inch thick. Sprinkle slices with salt and set aside.
• Finely mince garlic and ginger, sprinkle with little salt, mince some more until nearly mashed.
• Slice onions thinly.
• Seed and finely chop red and green chili peppers.
• In a deep skillet, heat ghee and fry sliced onions until soft and lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, pat eggplant slices dry and cube them.
• Add red and green chili peppers, minced garlic and ginger, curry leaves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and ground coriander to the onions, fry, stirring, until fragrant, then add tomato paste and tamarind puree, stir and add eggplant cubes.
• Fry one more minute, then add coconut milk, bring to a gentle boil, cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until eggplant is soft.
• Serve with rice, roti, dal or meat curry!

BRINJAL (EGGPLANT) CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants into 1-inch pieces- preferably keeping at least one side of each piece with the skin on.
• Put the eggplant pieces into a strainer and sprinkle liberally with salt. Place a small plate on top of the eggplant, and a weight on top of the plate- this process draws the excess water out of the eggplant, and it won't be overly salty. Leave for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil in a heavy pan. When hot, add mustard seeds- they will start to pop in a few seconds. When they begin to pop, add the sliced onions, garlic and ginger. Turn the heat to medium, and cook until mixture is nicely browned.
• Add cayenne pepper, tumeric, garam masala and cumin to the onion mixture. Cook spices for a few minutes, then add water and tomato paste, and reduce heat to low. Let the sauce cook gently, but don't allow it to become dry.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil over moderate heat. Add eggplant pieces to the pan, and arrange in a single layer. Saute until all sides are brown and crisp.
• Once all eggplant pieces are browned, incorporate them into the sauce pan, making sure to cover all pieces with the sauce. Add lemon juice and salt.
• Cook gently until eggplant is cooked through (about 15-20 minutes). Stir occasionally (and very gently) and serve.

INDIAN EGGPLANT CURRY

Steps:

• Chop the eggplants into 1-inch cubes with the skins on. Boil eggplant pieces in large stockpot for about 5-7 minutes, or until soft. Drain well, set aside.
• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Mix in cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Let them roast for about 1 minute or until they start to sizzle and pop.
• Stir in onion and fry for 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Add turmeric powder and fry for another 30 seconds.
• Add ginger-garlic paste, frying for about 1 minute. Stir in cayenne pepper, curry powder, and diced tomato. Cover and let simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the tomato is almost a paste (if you must, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to keep the mixture moist).
• Add salt, green chiles, and plain yogurt. Cook for 30 seconds, then add the eggplants. Cover and cook for 7-10 minutes. Mix in chopped cilantro and serve over rice.

SOUTH INDIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CURRY

Steps:

• In a cast iron or other heavy skillet, roast coconut powder, poppy seeds, sesame seeds and cumin seeds over low heat until light brown.
• Remove from pan to stop the cooking and cool.
• Put this coconut mixture in a food processor and process until it's grainy, reserve in a dish.
• Grind the roasted channa dal in a spice grinder until it is a fine powder and add to the coconut mixture.
• In a food processor, process the peanuts until they are coarsely ground.
• Wash and stem the eggplants.
• Cut each eggplant 2/3 into the wide end up to the stem - making an "X" - leave the stem end intact.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a skillet and cook the eggplants on low until soft.
• In a separate pan, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil to medium hot.
• Add the 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds and 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds to the hot oil.
• In a matter of seconds they will begin to pop - add the onions and stir.
• When the onions are beginning to brown, add the ginger garlic paste and the turmeric, cumin, coriander powder, chili powder and salt.
• Stir the spices into the onion then add the tomatoes.
• Stir in the tomatoes then add the coconut mixture along with the peanuts.
• Add the eggplants and 1 cup of the water.
• Stir and cook over low heat, covered for about 20 minutes.
• Add water a little at a time to maintain a nice smooth consistency.
• Add garam masala and 2 1/2 tablespoons of the chopped fresh coriander - stir.
• Check to see that it is salted to your taste.
• Put in a serving dish and garnish with the remaining chopped coriander.