Begun bhaja is a popular and delicious Bengali side dish with eggplants. Thick slices of begun or eggplants are marinated in spices, tossed in batter and pan fried. This crispy yet melt in mouth side dish goes very well with dal rice, jeera rice, khichdi or even naan. Here is how to make best bengali begun bhaja at home!
Eggplant or baingan is a very popular vegetable used very widely in Indian cuisine. I use them very frequently and make baingan harta, brinjal fry, vangi bath, ennegayi, kootu, stuffed eggplant, and many more.
Coming to this begun bhaja, if you are looking for a different yet very delicious side dish for dal fry or khichdi I highly recommend this recipe. The thick slices of eggplants are crispy at the edges and just melt in your mouth. You will love this moderately seasoned fry with flavorful spices. This is a very hearty side dish with eggplants.
What Is Bhaja?
Bhaja means shallow fried and begun means eggplants. Bhaja recipes are very popular in Bengali cuisine. I make this begun bhaja, aloo bhaja at times to serve as side dish for khichdi, dal fry or even roti. There are so many variations to begun bhaja recipe.
Before going to the recipe here are some points about the ingredients you need. Use big seedless eggplants for this recipe. These eggplants have a delicious buttery texture and also less bitter.
Traditionally mustard oil is used for making begun bhaja. If you are not very comfortable using mustard oil for its flavor or taste, you can use any cooking oil. Next rice flour is used for crispiness and it is optional. You can just toss the veggies in spice powders and fry. You can also use besan or chickpea flour instead of rice flour.
Serve baingan bhaja as side dish with rice, dal fry or as evening snack with adrak chai or masala chai.
Begun Bhaja Recipe
Is vegan and gluten free
Simple and easy to make
Needs just 6 ingredients
Delicious and flavorful
How To Make Begun Bhaja Recipe Step by Step
Wash and slice the eggplants into 1 inch roundels.
Keep the sliced eggplants immersed in water for 15 minutes to remove bitterness.
Drain and discard the water from eggplants. Now add the salt, spice powders and rice flour to the eggplants. Toss well.
Heat a tava with 1 tablespoon oil. Once the oil is hot spread the marinated eggplants and fry in medium flame. Fry for 10-12 minutes flipping frequently. Fry till the eggplants turn crispy at the edges and golden from both sides.
Serve begun bhaja hot with rice or roti.
Tips For Making Best Begun Bhaja
- Make sure to soak the eggplants in water as some eggplants tends to be bitter.
- Slice the eggplants thickly so that retains shape and stays crisp on frying.
- You can vary the spice levels as per taste
- You can double the recipe
I hope you will try this easy begun bhaja recipe and enjoy as much as we did.
Begun Bhaja Recipe
Begun bhaja recipe | Baingan bhaja | Eggplant tava fry recipe
1 CUP = 250 ml
Ingredients
- 1 big eggplant
- 2 teaspoons rice flour
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt
- Oil
Instructions
- Wash and slice the eggplants into 1 inch roundels.
- Keep the sliced eggplants immersed in water for 15 minutes to remove bitterness.
- Drain and discard the water from eggplants. Now add the salt, spice powders and rice flour to the eggplants. Toss well.
- Heat a tava with 1 tablespoon oil. Once the oil is hot spread the marinated eggplants and fry in medium flame. Fry for 10-12 minutes flipping frequently. Fry till the eggplants turn crispy at the edges and golden from both sides. Serve begun bhaja hot with rice or roti.
Nutrition
Mayura says
As someone who is not very fond of eggplant, i just loved this bhaja recipe. Thank you so much!