The Golden years & the spark of life…

One rainy afternoon I was on my balcony reflecting over the times & people of the past…with reference to their love for life and food. Food is & always will be the topic of conversation & contention in all our lives. So was it for my parents who spent 54 wonderful years in union….I often wondered about the secret formula of their long and happy married life: Was it love, companionship or commitment ? In reality they were opposite in all respects & that indeed was the secret formula of their togetherness. The age old adage proved again, ‘ Opposite poles attract..’

The speech by my brother on their 50th Anniversary celebration thus concluded ” “My parents could not even agree to the fact that “Baingan ka Bharta” was made out of Brinjal and not Bittergourd. This wonderful couple always agreed to disagree & that was the secret spice …the fire that kept the spark alive.

To their wonderful memory Iam sharing the recipe of the ever popular and favourite dish of our family.

Baingan ka Bharta

Prep time: 30 mins. Cook time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Brinjal 1 large , Onions 1 medium , Tomato 1 large , Green chilli 1 large, Ginger chopped 3/4 tsp, Garlic chopped 1/2 tsp , coriander leaves ( chopped finely) 2 tsp, Green peas / corn 1/4 cup ( boiled), Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp, chilli powder 1/4 tsp, Garam masala 1/4 tsp , coriander powder 1/2 tsp, Salt to taste, Cooking oil 2 tbsp, ghee 1 tbsp.

Method :

1. Wash and wipe dry the Brinjal. Rub a little oil on the skin with fingers. Place the Brinjal on a roasting wire & roast till the skin is charred well.Use a medium flame throughout this process. Turn the Brinjal every 2 minutes so that the vegetable gets roasted evenly. Cool the vegetable in a large bowl of water .Peel the skin and chop the stem off. Wash the roasted brinjal with a little warm water to remove all traces of the burnt skin. Mash the vegetable with a fork and keep aside.
2. Chop the onions , Tomato and green chilli finely.
3. Place an iron pan/ kadhai on medium flame. Heat two tbsp of oil, add the finely chopped garlic and ginger. Fry on a low flame. Next add the chopped onions. Saute the onions till translucent. Add the green chilli, followed by chopped tomatoes. At this stage the flame should be medium. Saute until the tomatoes are soft and pulpy.
4. Next add the salt, followed by the other spice powders one by one. Stir well till the spices are well blended. Lastly add the mashed Brinjal. The mashed Brinjal should well blend with the onion- tomato mixture. Saute for another 3-4 minutes.
5. Finally sprinkle the peas/ corn .This is optional. I love the additional colour of peas or corn. Finally add a tablespoon of ghee over the vegetable, stir well and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. This goes well Rotis, Naans or parathas.

What is the recipe for cooking up a happy Marriage ….The kitchen can have a very profound effect on a healthy and happy married life…..Believe it or not !!!

Till next time, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy.