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Dahi baigana
ଦହି ବାଇଗଣ · fried aubergine rounds in a cool, tempered yogurt sauce
Dahi baigana is one of the easiest dishes of an Odia summer lunch, and it turns up at home thalis in Puri and Bhubaneswar beside dalma and rice. Thick rounds of aubergine are rubbed with turmeric and salt, fried until golden and creamy, then bathed in whisked yogurt that has been tempered with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves and dried chilli. It is served at room temperature: cool, tangy and smoky from the fried aubergine. Chef's tip: add the tempering to the yogurt, never the yogurt to the hot pan, so it doesn't split.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rub 1 large round aubergine with ½ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp chilli powder and leave for 5 minutes while you whisk 12 ½ oz thick plain yogurt with 1 tsp sugar, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground roasted cumin until smooth. If very thick, loosen with 2–3 tbsp water.
5 minStep 2: Heat 4 tbsp mustard oil in a frying pan over a medium heat until hazy. Fry the aubergine in one layer for 3–4 minutes a side until deep golden and soft all the way through when pierced. Drain on a rack.
8 minStep 3: Arrange the aubergine in a shallow dish and pour over the yogurt. Common mistake: frying the aubergine too hot; it browns outside and stays spongy and raw inside.
Step 4: Pour off all but 1 tbsp oil. Add ½ tsp black mustard seeds and ½ tsp cumin seeds over a medium heat; when the mustard pops, add 8 curry leaves and 2 dried red chillies for 10 seconds, until the leaves crisp. Spoon over the yogurt.
1 minStep 5: Scatter with 1 tbsp fresh coriander and serve within an hour, at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dahi baigana take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
- What can I use instead of chilli powder?
- Cayenne, half the amount (hotter).
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