Baigan Chokha Recipe (Charred Eggplant With Garlic and Tomatoes)

My household hails from the northeastern Indian state of Bihar, the place baigan chokha—a dish of charred eggplant mashed with garlic, roasted tomatoes, lime juice, onions, and mustard oil— reigns supreme. It’s a facet dish, a condiment, and the only, tastiest method to by accident eat an entire eggplant in a single sitting. For my household and me, there isn’t any higher method to put together this summertime crop.

Biharis aren’t the one individuals who adore baigan chokha: The dish is beloved by many Indo-Caribbeans—members of the Indian diaspora who stay within the Caribbean, together with Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Barbados. (Whereas Indians usually spell the dish “chokha,” Trinidadians typically seek advice from it as “choka.”) Some Indo-Caribbean variations of baigan chokha might name for culantro as a substitute of cilantro, spring onions as a substitute of pink onion, or scotch bonnet pepper as a substitute of Thai chile. As a result of so many Indo-Caribbeans can hint their roots to the identical northeastern area of India, there’s a shared historical past and tradition with these on the South Asian subcontinent. At present, many Indo-Caribbeans take pleasure in the identical music, festivals, and meals—together with baigan chokha—as their Indian brethren.    

4 Ideas for Making Scrumptious Baigan Chokha

Lower slits into the eggplant—then stuff them with garlic. Although you possibly can roast garlic on the facet after which incorporate it into the dish later, the best method to imbue eggplant with garlic’s candy taste is to cook dinner the garlic throughout the eggplant.  

Broil the eggplant till very tender. Individuals typically complain that eggplants are tannic when uncooked or solely evenly cooked. However charring the eggplant—whether or not you’re utilizing candy, early-season Chinese language eggplants or giant, meaty globe eggplants—quells its bitterness and astringency. It additionally brings out the fruit’s pure candy, savory flavors whereas softening its powerful flesh. Err on the facet of overcooked: The inside flesh needs to be tender, scoopable, and fall-apart tender, and the outside needs to be charred and nearly completely burnt-looking throughout.

Mash, don’t chop. For a smoother, extra scoopable dip that resembles the feel of conventional baigan chokha, use a potato masher or your fingers. It might be tempting to make use of a meals processor, however it’ll mix the eggplant far an excessive amount of, leading to a purée, which isn’t what we’re going for.

To complete, attain for a daring olive oil. In case you have been to eat baigan chokha In India, you’d seemingly be hit with mustard oil’s pungent and nose-wrinkling warmth. The ingredient is produced from pressed mustard seeds and might be troublesome to seek out within the US and Europe; should you can’t find any mustard oil, do as I do and attain for essentially the most assertive extra-virgin olive oil you could have—the type you’d take pleasure in uncooked, both as a drizzle or in a French dressing. Whereas it’s not a precise substitute for mustard oil, its vegetal and mildly peppery notes are a better approximation than some other oil. (Although in case you have—or can discover—mustard oil, this may be the place to make use of it.)

How one can Serve Baigan Chokha

Scoop baigan chokha up with scorching flatbread like roti or paratha, serve it as a zingy summer season dip with assorted crackers, or take pleasure in it by itself. In case you’re heating up the grill or broiler this summer season and desire a smoky, satisfying vegetarian facet, baigan chokha is the reply. Get pleasure from it scorching, room temperature, or—as I love to do when I’ve loads of leftovers—chilly from the fridge alongside fried eggs.