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| Achari baigan |
If you remember, I had recently written about how adding achar (pickle) oils and masalas to dishes make so much sense. Well, I made a baigan (aubergine) dish today using mango pickle which turned out to be really well and K loved it too. I thought I must tell you how.
So here goes, my achari baigan recipe:
- Heat a tablespoon of coconut oil
- Add 1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds, 4 or 5 fresh curry leaves
- Once this sputters, add a tablespoon of mango pickle
- Add 1/2 a finely chopped red onion. That would be 2,3 tablespoons
- Stir and once the onions are translucent, add 1/2 a teaspoon of finely chopped fresh ginger.
- Add 1 chopped medium sized tomato.
- Stir and once the tomato is semi-cooked, add sliced aubergine (baigan/ begun/ egg plant)
- Sprinkle salt to taste, 1/4 teaspoon each of turmeric, black pepper, coriander and cumin powders.
- Stir for a bit. Then cover with a lid. I used a stainless steel plate with water on it so that the contents could slow cook on a low flame.
- I returned took a quick shower and returned to the kitchen after about ten minutes and then removed the cover, cranked up the heat and cooked the aubergine till done. It does take a while to cook.
- At the end, I garnished it with chopped chillies, a few curry leaves and fresh coriander. Drizzled a bit of coconut oil and smeared a bit of mango pickle at the end.
I had the kitchen to myself today, I enjoyed the solitude, pottering around with ideas with Alexa giving me company. Today’s soundtrack was the best of Phil Collins. I realised that I had missed this.
A taste of Bandra
From the house of Cats today
Thank you 🙂
Soundtrack to go with the recipe, featuring Phil Collins:
Do you remember:
I wish it would rain down
Sussodio
Another day in paradise
In the air tonight
I was always confused about this achari thing. A friend advised that its just using pickling spices with mustard oil and not actually a pickle. Well I am confused again. Ill add both he he he.
About the insta message, yes cats are very therapeutic as you will agree. People who can must must get adopted by a cat. Remember you own a dog but a cat owns you. All the affection I get from my stray kiddies is heavenly. Today a new teenager Monto nuzzled me and licked my hand. Oh the thrill of it, the sense of having a life of some use.
@sanjay i fell that the odd bit of the pickle gives a nice sharp bite in between. Please say hi to Montu