Sliced eggplant pan fried in very little oil and then layered with spiced yogurt followed by a drizzle of tempered hot oil! Doi Begun is a popular Bengali eggplant curry, except I make it little untraditional way. Typically yogurt will be cooked along with the spices and eggplant. This recipe doesn't call for that which makes it a very quick meal. It's light on the tummy and great on warm days too.
eggplant
Don't get alarmed by the name.. give me a chance to explain. When I was working in Bangalore, every Friday, I and my friend had to work on this boring task of allocating resources to the projects. I am not going to go into a detailed explanation of the task but believe me when I say that for those few months, this was one hell of a friday job that made us go crazy at times.
Begun Bhaja is a classic Bengali style fried eggplant. It is one of the most favorite and common dish prepared with eggplant. You can serve Begun Bhaja in several different ways. You can pair it with Khichuri (rice and lentil porridge), or with Luchi (fried bread) and my absolutely favorite is to enjoy it with rice, ghee and few green chilies on the side.
Begun Poda is a classic Bengali Recipe. Begun refers to Eggplant, Poda means roast and now you know why this dish must be such a favorite to many. Roasted eggplant is a delicious treat and prepared is so many different ways in different parts of the world. While I love all of those versions, this bengali style roasted eggplant - Begun Poda will always remain my favorite. It's comforting with steamed white rice!
Baingan Ka Salan is a popular dish from Hydrarabad, India. Baby eggplant is cooked in midly spiced peanut flavored gravy. The tasty is sublime and flavor bang. Paired with rice or paratha, it is a hearty comforting meal.
A very light Bengali fish curry, that doesn’t call for onion or tomato. Just potato, eggplant and few mild spices is all it needs to prepare this Macher Jhol Aloo Begun Diye. Macher Jhol translates to fish curry, aloo means potato and Begun is eggplant. This simple light variety of Bengali fish curry is one of my absolute favorite. We also add dried lentil dumplings (daler bodi) which brings an earthy flavor to the dish. Paired with rice, it’s a great summertime meal.
Crunchy flat green beans and creamy eggplant cooked with mild spices using potatoes for the perfect starch to bind it all together. Shim Beguner Chorchori is a classic Bengali pure vegetarian dish. It is very mildly spiced and taste great with rice or roti.
Fulkopi’r Data Bhaja is a classic Bengali dish that is prepared using the stalk, leaves and core of the cauliflower. It is a simple pure vegetarian dish that you can prepare with very basic ingredients. This Cauliflower Stalk Stir fried is a great way to embrace the concept of no-waste-food.
Sometimes I wonder who names these dishes? Labra may sound a little funny. But I can assure you it’s like no other vegetable curry or stew that you have tried before. Labra (Mix Vegetable Medley) is a quintessential festive food. It is best paired with Khichuri/Khichdi. The vegetables are slow cooked to release their juices that blends together to form a perfectly tasty dish. It’s very mildly spiced side dish. You definitely need to try, if you haven’t already.
Kumro Pata Torkari or call it Kumro Pata Chorchori is a quintessential Bengali pure veg curry, prepared with assorted veggies and pumpkin leaves along with pumpkin stems. It is a simple comfort meal when paired with rice. Very mildly spiced like most vegetarian dishes in Bengali cuisine. You can prepare the same dish using squash or zucchini stems/stalks and leaves.
Dahlia Khichdi translating to Broken Wheat Porridge is a wholesome healthy meal! It is a one pot quick meal. You can slow cook in your stove top in a heavy bottom pan or make it quick in your pressure cooker or you could use Electric pressure cooker like Instapot or Mealthy Multipot.