Trader Joe’s BAINGAN BHARTA, Indian Roasted Eggplant Curry

BAINGAN BHARTA – Roasted Eggplant Curry – Northern Indian dish from the Punjab region.

NEW ITEM: Trader Joe’s recently added one more very good “Authentic Indian Recipe” entrée to the frozen Indian dishes they carry.

Baingan Bharta is a spiced roasted eggplant dish. Baingan mean eggplant. Bharta means charred grilled vegetables. I’ve had this many times in Indian restaurants. If I see it on the menu, I will order it.

Trader Joe’s frozen version of Baingan Bharta is quite good, almost like something you could get at a restaurant though maybe not quite as smokey. This does have a bit of the classic smokey taste this dish is well known for, and it is very nicely seasoned with lots of authentic spices and flavor.

This Indian entrée joins two other very good frozen entrée vegetarian dishes that Trader Joe’s carries which I’ve reviewed and buy regularly: (1) the excellent PALAK PANEER and (2) a very good CHANNA MASALA. I love having any of these in my freezer., for whenever the mood strikes for an easy and very tasty Indian meal.

Just FYI, the ones I mention are the ones that are “entrées” meaning just that dish – they don’t include basmati rice (as some dishes do). I prefer to make my own Basmati rice . Plus I like that that Trader Joe’s put this dish in an Eco Friendly (reclyable) paper base instead of plastic as some other dishes use.

HEATING: Use Microwave, Oven or Stovetop (even though they don’t say that). I made it on the stove and it worked fine just heating in a pan. You can leave it out on the counter for maybe a 1/2 hr, to defrost slightly then put the frozen puck in a non-stick pan, cover it and heat it on low heat till its defrosted and heated thru, stirring every five minutes. It may take 15 minutes in total.

This dish goes well of course with Basmati rice and some Naan or similar bread to scoop it up. I made a quick Raita with Greek yogurt and cucumbers on the side. Or buy the Tzaziki at TJ’s.

Naturally a nice chutney will go well too with this dish. One can not go wrong with TJ’s excellent Sri Lankan ORGANIC MANGO CHUTNEY

Cook up this entree up with Palak Paneer or a package of Channa Masala and some rice or naan and you have an Indian feast that will easily serve two for about $7-8.

$3.49 for 10 oz. I would buy this again.

Spice level – to me not very. Your mileage of course will vary. If you do find it too spicy, you can tone it down with a little plain yogurt.

Vegetarian (but not vegan)

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/baingan-bharta-095249

“Our latest foray into the world of frozen entrées inspired by Indian cuisine combines the mild, slightly sweet flavor and creamy consistency of roasted eggplant with aromatic alliums like onion and garlic, savory seasonings like turmeric and fenugreek leaves, and a nice level of heat, courtesy of fresh green chili peppers. Hearty, flavorful, and satisfying, each bite of Trader Joe’s Baingan Bharta is layered with a pleasantly complex mix of tastes and textures. And though the eating experience may be complex, our take on this iconic Punjabi vegetarian dish (also known in some parts of the world as baigan chokha) is surprisingly simple to prepare: just heat, serve, and enjoy”

You can learn about this dish here which includes a recipe if you are feeling ambitious!

https://www.cookwithmanali.com/baingan-bharta/