Dahi Baingan, also known as Dahi Begun, is a popular dish from the state of Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India. This delicious recipe combines tender eggplants with a tangy yogurt sauce, creating a perfect balance of flavors that is sure to please your taste buds. In this blog post, we will explore the traditional method of making Dahi Baingan and give you some tips on how to make it at home.

 

Ingredients:

4 small eggplants

1 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp mustard oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

1 tbsp chopped cilantro leaves

Oil for frying

 

Instructions:

Wash the eggplants and cut them into 1-inch cubes. Soak the eggplant cubes in salted water for 10-15 minutes. Drain the water and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the eggplant cubes and fry until they are golden brown. Remove the eggplants from the pan and set them aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk the yogurt until smooth. Add the coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt to the yogurt and mix well.

Heat the mustard oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.

Add the fried eggplants to the pan and mix well. Pour the yogurt mixture over the eggplants and stir gently.

Cook the eggplants in the yogurt sauce for 5-6 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.

Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves and serve hot with steamed rice or roti.

Tips:

Soaking the eggplant cubes in salted water before frying them helps to remove any bitterness from the eggplants and also helps them to cook evenly.

Mustard oil is a traditional ingredient used in this recipe, but you can substitute it with any other vegetable oil.

Adjust the amount of red chili powder according to your spice preference.

If the yogurt sauce is too thick, you can add a little bit of water to thin it out.

 

Dahi Baingan is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for lunch or dinner. The combination of tender eggplants with a tangy yogurt sauce is a match made in heaven. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the flavors of Odisha in your own kitchen!