Panch Phoran Dahi Baigan 

(Serves 4)

So just yesterday we got kilos of baigan from our farm house. Now when you’ve grown something with so much of passion, you really want to savour it well. 

So here I was, searching for some interesting recipes of Baigan, when I bumped into cookwithmanali and found this interesting 5 spice (Panch Phoran) dish which sounded more like a sophisticated baigan raita.

I thought of giving it a try and I must say, it was a pretty impressive way of using the eggplant.

This is a dish cooked in 3 isolated parts and then assembled in a way similar to a lasagne. Today I will write the quantity of ingredients as I introduce them in the process.

The Baigan

·      Wash and cut 1/4^th inch round slices of baigan (2 medium-small size)

·      Heat oil in a wide pan and once its hot, add the slices.

·      Cook the slices on both the sides. This will take approx. 7-8 min.

·      Take them out on a paper towel.

Part1 is done

The Masala

·      Use the same pan, add 1 tbsp oil and heat it

·      Add the Panch Phoran to the hot oil (use ½ tsp of each – jeera, saunf, methi dana, onion seeds, raee)

·      Once the seeds splutter, add  1 medium sized chopped onion and 1tsp ginger garlic paste.

·      Cook for about 2 min

·      Add all the powdered spices – dhania powder, lal mirch powder, jeera powder, haldi, garam masala and amchur

·      Stir it well and add 1/4^th cup of water.

·      Add a little salt

·      Now let the masalas cook for about 3 min and take it off the fire when all the water is dry.

Part 2 is done

Curd

·      Take 1 cup curd and add 1/4^th tsp sugar and little salt

·      Wisk the curd well

Part 3 is done

Assembling

·      Take the serving dish and put 1 tsp dahi on its base

·      Drop 1 tsp masala on it

·      Put a layer of baigan

·      Next add masala covering each baigan

·      Next pour half of the remaining dahi

·      Again layer it with remaining baigan and masala and dahi.

Tadka

Finally lets drizzle some tadka on the dish

·      Heat 1 tsp oil

·      Add 1/4^th tsp combining the panch phoran

·      Put ½ dry red chilli and 6-7 curry leaves

Put it on the final layer.

Now chill this dish in the fridge for an hour before serving. This goes extremely well with Pulav/ Biryani.