Begun Poraa
This is ‘Bong style Baigan Bharta’ that I’m talking of and my mother’s recipe too. ‘Begun Poraa’ is the Bengali term for it ('Poraa' means burnt in Bengali) as the main element should be the burnt smell and those of you who haven’t tasted Baigan Bharta in this way must make it today to see for yourself.
This is how I made it in just two simple steps and with minimum ingredients…..
Ingredients:
· 2 medium sized eggplants/aubergines/brinjals/baingan (take care to buy them soft and light, so that they contain less seeds)· 2 tsp raw mustard oil· A fistful of freshly chopped coriander leaves, feel free to add as much as you like· 2-3 chopped green chilies· ½ tsp sugar· Salt as per taste
Begun Poraa
Process:
Step 1:
Wash the eggplants and smear a drop of mustard oil all over the skin so that it comes off easily after roasting. Burn/roast the eggplants on all sides on your gas stove directly on fire. After they are properly roasted on all sides, gently peel off the burnt skin keeping the stalks intact because they are absolutely yum and juicy when you have them.
Begun Poraa
Step 2:
Put in the rest of the ingredients, mix and mash the eggplants well until pulpy. Serve with hot fulkas and see the magic……