Achari Baingan ( Eggplant with pickled spices)

Who doesnt love Indian pickles ? I am sorry If you haven't tried then you are missing something really tangy and spicy. As Summer Holidays approach , We head to our grandmom's place every year all through my childhood.. I was watching her make pickles for us and finally with leftover pickles she mix rice and ghee and feed us one by one. God I miss those days. Till today she is still making pickles sending me here to united states and I enjoy her pickles still. I love you ammamma (My Grandmom) . I have bored you enough of my pickle love story . Coming to the recipe . I can never cook eggplants curry well. But this curry came out so well. This recipe is adapted from monsoonspice blog. I changed it to my taste. 

Achari Baingan           

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Serves About: 2

Ingredients

• 12-15 Eggplants
• 1 tbsp of oil

For Tempering

• 1 tsp of Mustard seeds
• 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds
• A pinch of Asafoetida 
• 4-5 Red chillies ,Crushed and de-seeded
• 1 tsp. of Kalonji/Onion seeds
• 1 tsp. of Fennel seeds

Dry Spices

• 2 tsp of Red Chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp of Turmeric powder
• 2 tsp of Cumin powder
• 2 tsp of Garam masala powder
• 2 tsp of Dry Mango powder
• 1 tsp of Coriander powder

Method

• Clip the Stem of Eggplants and Cut into 4 equal pieces lengthwise.Soak them in water to prevent discoloring and set aside.
• Heat some oil in a pan, Add the ingredients under " The tempering " in oil and fry till they leave out some good aroma. You can add ginger paste too (Optional).
• Drain the water from eggplants and add to the tempering and fry for a minute.
• Add the masala powders one by one and stir well. If the eggplants stick , Add 1 tbsp. of water and keep stirring.
• Close the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes. Keep checking So that It wont burn in bottom.Fry until the eggplants are tender and cooked well.
• Finally garnish with coriander leaves and switch off the heat.

Serve this curry hot with roti/steamed rice. Its is so spicy n perfect for pickle lover like me . Enjoy ! :)