Eggplant Curry ! Fiber Packed Baby Eggplant In Sesame Ginger Coconut Sauce

Eggplant Curry ! Fiber Packed Baby Eggplant In Sesame Ginger Coconut Sauce

 

Indian Eggplant Curry ! Baby eggplant cooked in a sauce made of sesame seeds, coconut meat, ginger and some spices makes a savory side. Super easy to make and bursting with nutrition this eggplant curry can be eaten with some nan, bread or just by itself. If you look for this dish in an Indian restaurant, it may also be called Baingan Bharta. The eggplant is slit into four without fully cutting it up  and tossed into an aromatic curry or sauce and cooked till it gets tender and soft. Pitch into it with a fork and mmmm… delish ! It just melts in your mouth. I had a lot of house guests over for Thanksgiving and once we were done with turkey, I made this spicy eggplant curry and it was a big hit. Sesame seeds, coconut meat, onion, ginger and chili are sautéed in olive oil and blended to a smooth paste. Spices are added to it transforming it into a curry bursting with flavor. When you toss  the baby eggplant into the curry, it gets steamed with just a hint of flavor. I used frozen coconut meat which I pick up at the Indian store. It’s the closest I can find to freshly grated coconut but you can use desiccated coconut, fresh coconut or unsweetened coconut flakes.

 

 

Nutrition Wise

The elusive eggplant is a favorite of mine. Eggplants are bursting with phytonutrients  that act as antioxidants that help to reduce the number of free radicals in the body which damage cells and may contribute to certain diseases, including some cancers and heart diseases. Eggplants are also a good source of dietary fiber, which can help improve cardiovascular and digestive health. Sesame seeds are high in vitamin E and considered heart healthy. They add to  the fiber in this dish. Coconut meat is full of healthy monounsaturated fat that gets burnt as fuel. It’s an amazing fat that does not get stored as fat ! Curicumin aka turmeric and cumin add some antioxidant power.  Overall, a very healthy dish.

 

 

 

 

Eggplant Curry

Serves 12
Dietary Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Meal type Side Dish
Misc Child Friendly, Freezable, Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold
Region Indian

Ingredients

  • 12 Small baby eggplant
  • 1 Medium onion (sliced)
  • 3 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • 3 Tbsp coconut meat (dry, fresh, desiccated, or unsweetened coconut flakes)
  • 1 Large tomato (diced)
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 3 green chili (or 1 jalapeno)
  • 1 Tsp cumin powder
  • 1 Tsp turmeric (or curicumin)
  • 1 Tsp garam masala
  • 2 Tbsp ginger (grated)
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup cilantro (finely chopped)
  • 1 Tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 Tsp paprika

Note

This delicately flavored eggplant doused in a spicy curry is packed with antioxidants and fiber ! Tastes great eaten alone or with some bread !

Directions

Wash baby eggplant and trim the stem to the top without removing the stem piece which holds the eggplant together. Slit each eggplant into four from the bottom without completely cutting the eggplant into four pieces.
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil, add chopped onion, grated ginger, chopped tomato and saute for 2 minutes. Add sesame seeds, coconut meat, green chili and saute another 3 minutes. Add to a food processor or blender and blend to a smooth paste.
Put mixture back on fire and add turmeric, cumin, paprika, garam masala, salt and cook for 5 minutes. Add the baby eggplant and gently fold into the mixture. Add half cup water. Add a tbsp of olive oil and simmer for 10-15 minutes till the eggplant is tender and cooked.
Serve warm with gravy or sauce scooped over eggplant.

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