Ringan No Oro (Baigan Bharta)

Simplicity always hits the Spot!
My friends and I always talk about food and share recipes.  We used to have cooking dates and enjoyed them to the max. This recipe is from one of my really good friends, who actually came over for a cooking date and showed me how to make it. It is simple and super delish!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 large eggplants
• 2  medium sized tomatoes, chopped
• 1 bunch of spring onions, chopped
• 1 bunch of green garlic, chopped
• 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup green chopped red bell pepper (capsicum)
• 2 green chilies, minced
• 1 inch piece of ginger grated
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Pinch of hing (asafoetida)
• 1tsp cumin powder
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp red chili
• 1 tsp salt - adjust to taste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro to garnish

Method:

1. Cut the eggplant, length wise, into big slices and coat them with olive oil, place the slices flat on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 35-40 min at 350 degrees.
2. Let cool and peel off the skin.  Mush the eggplant and keep aside.
3. Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium to high heat and stir fry the bell peppers for about a minute. Take the bell peppers out of the pan and keep aside.
4. Use the same saucepan with the remaining oil.  
5. Test the heat of the oil by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if it crackles right away, it is ready. Add asafoetida and cumin seeds.
6. After the cumin seeds crackle, add the chopped spring onions, garlic & let cook till the spring onions start wilting.
7. Add the chopped tomatoes, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili, and salt and let cook for a few minutes until the tomato dehydrates.
8. Add the chopped cilantro and let cook for another minute or two.
9. Add eggplant mush and cook on medium heat. Keep stirring the eggplant and mashing the eggplant as you cook.
10. Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes.
11. Add bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and garam masala and mix gently.
12. Oro is ready to serve hot with rotis, parathas, or naan, best would be to pair it with Bajri Rotla.

• Enjoy!