You guessed it right - The Indian Summer.Our schools were closed and we were a bunch of juveniles running around Aai's (Grandma) courtyard, mostly engaged in regular squabbles ..... like who would sleep next to Aai during the afternoon story telling session, yet another thing that we fought over regularly was who would get to eat the takua (Mango seed or Endocarp)!
While we fought about the most trivial things within the comfort of the four walls caring little about the difficulties of life, there was one sweaty lean guy who struggled to make a living ... Raghu Kaka. He was probably in his forty something, dark complexioned and wrinkled faced, paan stained teeth and unkept hair ... in short nothing close to looking attractive. The only thing that made him look human was his warm affectionate smile.
Every morning I would see him sit by the staircase having a word with Aai. He would often talk about the village politics,his daily business and the sabzi mandi, his family and about his four kids who went to school. At times Aai would offer him a cup of tea with some Mudhi (puffed rice). He was supposedly from Aai's native and was a fruit vendor. He would arrive by the early morning passenger train and pull out his rickety rusted cycle which he kept in one corner of our garage. He would carefully inspect the bicycle and then tie a big bamboo basket behind the cycle and tightly secure it with a rope before riding it away. That was his everyday routine. I would sometimes watch him sitting on the staircase leaning against Aai as they made a conversation ..... Some days he would offer me a mango. But it was Aai's strict instruction not to take anything for free.
This was everyday routine to see Raghu Kaka during our summer vacations for years together till he grew old and weak and stopped coming.
Today I remembered him after decades ...simply out of the blue without any relevance while preparing this South Indian delicacy. There wasn't anything significant about this person that would leave a lasting impression ..... he was like any regular guy who came to the city to make a living.
I wondered why he crossed my mind after all these years .... Is it because things which we sometimes consider to be insignificant and irrelevant leave a bigger impression on our lives ??
Preparation Time 60 minutes
Serves 3
Ingredients
Small Tender Eggplants/Bringjal - 6
Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Sesame Seeds - 1 tbsp
Dry Coconut powder - 1 tbsp
Chopped Onion - 1/2 cup
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp
Dry Red Chilis - 5
Cumin Seeds - 1/2tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - Few
Turmeric Powder - 1/3 tsp
Asafoetida/Hing - 1/3 tsp
Tamarind juice - 1/3 cup
Jaggery/ Sugar -1/2 tsp
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cardamon - 2
Bay Leaf - 1
Salt per taste
Oil for cooking
Method of Preparation
1 Wash the eggplants and pat dry. Slit them into four halves with the stem intact and fry them in oil. Keep aside.
2 Dry roast peanuts,sesame seeds, coconut powder and red chilies. Grind them into a paste adding little water and keep aside.
3 Heat little oil in a wok. Add all the whole spices,curry leaves and cumin seeds. Add chopped o onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add salt and turmeric.
4 Now add the tamarind juice and add cumin and coriander powder. Mix well and let it simmer. Add sugar/ jaggery to it. Also add the asafoetida.
5 Take the peanut paste and add it to the above mixture. You may add water to adjust the consistency.
6 Once the gravy begins to simmer add the egg plants and cook. Make sure to stir the gravy in between.
Serving Tips
Serve as a side with pulao/rice or any Indian Flat bread.
40 comments:
delicious flavourful eggplants looks good with peanuts
They look really delicious..looks superb..:)
Omg thats very tempting recipe dear,loved the addition of Peanuts Powder in masala...Sure the taste will be amazing...
My hubby is a BIG eggplant lover and he goes crazy for this one - lol..looks really delcious with the perfect shots!
US Masala
Yummy and delicious recipe.. looks awesome !!!
Indian Cuisine
Looks perfect and love all the shots.. absolutely yummy meal.
It's surely a great treat for eggplant fans...Very amazing flavours in it...
Bagara baingan looks awesome.....anyone who visits Hyderabad shud sample some of it along with the famouus Biryani!!!!
Nice recollections about the summer holidays....even i used to fight with my brother over the amba tanku!!!
I love this....love it wid jolada rotti..yummy combo
Bagara baingan looks simply irresistible, give me that bowl,i'll happily finish it rite now..
you are a fabulous write Satrupa. love reading your posts and yes the baghara baingan looks delectable.
Looks so gud ...I love bagara baigan and your is so tempting
Wow tempting curry, rich and creamy sauce,looks divine.
Never tried preparing bagara baingan..It looks amazing Satrupa..Really tempting clicks!
omg...that looks so tempting and delicious...loved your clicks..!!
Looks perfect, I have a soft corner for brinjal, so this is must try, it is slightly different from my treatment of brinjals.
Have you deep fried or shallow fried the brinjals? Any tips to get the frying right?Thanks.
Rajani.
What a great combo..:-) Loved the bagara baingan..
I love egg plants in any form..I am soo waiting to try it!!
Never tried this famous dish,looks very comforting with that peas pulav,lovely presentation!
lovely post...like the story.. a walk to the memory lane. I don't know how many times that mango seed became the fighting ground between me and my brother.liked the first click too.
lovely post satrupa, i like ur new profile pic, indian summer, watermelon, mango it is the best, can't find it anywhere in the world and bagara baingan looks heavenly missing mum!
Iama big fan of brinjal but never prepared this, looks abs. delicious. will try for sure.
Super yummy.. ! lovely post..
New to your space n happy to follow you..
Do visit me as time permits..
http://comletseat.blogspot.com
I normally do not like eggplant, but this sounds really delicious. Very different...
I'm not a big eggplant fan but you are tempting me with your delicious curry and even more gorgeous shots!!
looks great...i love this but ive never been successful in making it well
Awesome recipe....superb clicks.....
Hi there. I got to your blog while searching for bagara baingan recipe. I am glad I found this because after following your instructions exactly, the result was a delicious dish that I would've otherwise never thought of making. Thank you so much.
yummpy dishes , I can't wait to eat those delicious dishes !!!
Micheal John
San Francisco , USA
african mango | revitol hair removal cream
yeah that's good blog , I find here helpful content !!!
Samhar Ris151
San Francisco , USA
genf20 plus | alteril
yummy those all dishes jealous me !! I can't wait more :)
Jack Daniel
Houston, Texas, USA
revitol hair removal cream | wartrol
I appreciated your kind info , keep updating !!
Gavin mason
Toronto, Canada
bark off reviews | potty patch reviews
Yummmmmmy........can't wait to try some of your recipes.
Alpana
http://smart-snacks.blogspot.com
wow I get hungry now !
James bond
Melbourne, Australia
acnezine | sensa reviews
hmm those delicious dishes look pretty cool , let's have a dinner :) Dark circles under eye cure by hydrolyze & read must hydroxatone reviews for know about it !
You know what , I love the way that you writing articles..
Kevin Jordan
Los Fresnos TX, USA
genie bra | nubrilliance
umm nice dishes !! Which kind of dishes are those ?
Samuel Johnson
Toronto , CANADA
buy procera avh | buy hydrolyze
wow that's all are really very heal;thy dishes !
Andrew Sami
Houston TX ,USA
genie bra | teeter hang ups
yummy , I'm really in hungry already !
Bambi Barb
Los Angeles, USA
buy capsiplex & buy proactol
I wish to be there for dinner tonight with those recipes !
Wilson Taylor
Denver, USA
phen375 reviews & capsiplex reviews
Post a Comment