Baingan Bharta
Smoky charred eggplant mashed into a spiced onion-tomato base.
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplant
- 2 Onion
- 2 Tomato
- 1 Ginger
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 2 Green chili
- 3 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds (optional)
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric (optional)
- 1 tsp Garam masala (optional)
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Char the whole eggplants over an open flame or under a broiler, turning, until the skins are blackened and the flesh has collapsed.
- Chop the onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and green chili.
- Peel away the charred skin from the eggplant and mash the smoky flesh.
- Heat the oil in a pan and crackle the cumin seeds, then fry the onion until golden.
- Add the ginger, garlic, chili, tomato, and turmeric and cook until the tomato softens and the oil separates.
- Fold in the mashed eggplant and salt and cook until thick, then finish with the garam masala.
- Scatter cilantro over the top and serve with roti.
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About Baingan Bharta
Baingan bharta is a North Indian dish of fire-roasted eggplant mashed into a spiced onion and tomato base, and its defining trait is smoke. The whole eggplants are charred directly over a flame or under a broiler until the skins blacken and the flesh collapses, which infuses the pulp with a deep, campfire smokiness you can't get any other way. Once the burnt skin is peeled away, the soft flesh is folded into a masala of golden onions, ginger, garlic, green chili, tomato, and warming spices like cumin and turmeric, cooked until the oil separates and the mixture turns thick.
On the plate it's rustic and full-flavored: smoky and savory, with the sweetness of caramelized onion, the tang of cooked tomato, and a fresh chili heat that you can dial up or down. Finished with garam masala and cilantro, it's vegan and naturally light on calories despite tasting rich. It's traditionally scooped up with roti, paratha, or naan, or spooned alongside rice and dal as part of a larger meal. Because everything but the charring happens in a single pan, it rewards the small effort of properly blackening the eggplant with real depth.
Baingan Bharta: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Baingan Bharta?
A serving has about 188 calories — 3.2g protein, 19.5g carbs, 11.5g fat, 5.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Baingan Bharta gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Baingan Bharta has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Baingan Bharta?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cumin seeds, ground turmeric, garam masala — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Baingan Bharta make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.