Ingredients and Weight: - 2 medium eggplants (about 1 pound) - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil - 1 teaspoon ground cumin - 1 teaspoon ground coriander - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon chili powder - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 onion, finely chopped (1 cup) - 1 tomato, finely chopped (1 cup) - 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped (1 cup) - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: 1 (Simple)
Preparation Method Steps: 1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). 2. Cut eggplants in half lengthwise and score the flesh in a crosshatch pattern. 3. Brush eggplants with oil and roast face down on a baking sheet for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and browned. 4. Let eggplants cool slightly, then scoop out the flesh into a large skillet. 5. Add oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, and salt to the skillet. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, or until the spices are fragrant. 6. Stir in onion, tomato, and green bell pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until softened. 7. Add the roasted eggplant flesh to the skillet and mash with a fork until desired consistency is reached. 8. Stir in cilantro and serve warm.
Nutritional Information: Per serving (1/8th of the recipe): - Calories: 120 - Fat: 6g - Carbohydrates: 15g - Protein: 4g
Dish Characteristics: - Creamy and flavorful - Slightly spicy with a hint of smokiness - Perfect for dipping with naan or roti
User Comments: - "This dish is so delicious and comforting. I love the smoky flavor from the roasted eggplant." - "I'm not a big fan of eggplant, but this dish changed my mind. It's so creamy and flavorful." - "This is a great side dish for any Indian meal. It's easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser."
Special Precautions and Tips: - Be careful when scoring the eggplant flesh. You want to make sure you don't cut all the way through to the skin. - If you don't have ground cumin, you can substitute with cumin seeds. Just toast them in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes before grinding them in a spice grinder. - If you want to make the dish spicier, you can add more chili powder to taste.