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Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

I live and breathe Gujarati food. They are simple vegetarian dishes I eat every evening, and have done since I was young. Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry (Oroh) was one of those dishes mum would cook as a midweek dinner after our evening swim at our local leisure centre.

What is Oroh?

Oroh is simply a name for smoky aubergine cooked with garlic, onions, tomatoes and chillies.

If you’re a fan of North Indian food, you’ll probably know it as Baingan ka Bharta – the North Indian version. Oroh is the Gujarati name for it and here’s how we cook it at home.

Baingan ka Bharta is a part of the national cuisines of all nation states of the Indian subcontinent.

It’s a well-loved vegetarian dish that’s made by mincing aubergine or eggplant that is grilled over charcoal or direct fire. At home we do it over direct fire.

A whole head of garlic?!

It’s really easy to be afraid of overdoing it with the garlic in this dish.

You might think it’s mad to add as much garlic as my recipe calls for but please do stick with it.

The burnt aubergine needs flavours that can stand up to it so that the result is smoky, spicy, punchy and tangy.

How to cook aubergines for Burnt Aubergine Curry

Use a fork to dock holes all over the aubergines. Rub each one with a small amount of oil and then place onto a trivet set over a gas burner.

Switch the flame on and allow the aubergines to roast directly on the fire until charred and blackened all over, about 12-14 minutes per aubergine.

Turn every 5 minutes or so using a pair of metal tongs. If you have multiple burners and trivets you can do all of them at once, otherwise you may need to work in batches.

The aubergine skin should be completely blackened and brittle. The should be cooked through completely. It’s almost impossible to overcook them, so if you’re unsure about whether they’re done or not, give them another 5 minutes anyway.

Keep the windows open all the time as the kitchen will get very smoky. Alternatively, barbecue the aubergines outside. You can also grill them under a domestic grill, but the final dish will not be as smoky and delicious as it should be.

Once blackened, set the aubergines onto a plate and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Use a sharp knife to split the (still warm) aubergines lengthways down the centre.

Use a spoon to scrape the as much of the creamy flesh from inside as possible. Discard the blackened skins. Roughly chop the aubergine flesh and set aside.

Can beginners make Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry?

Absolutely! This is one of the first dishes my mother taught me to cook. I’d seen her make it a million times before and it was a favourite in our home. Gather your ingredients and take your time roasting the aubergines over the open flame. Why? Because this is where the dish gets a tonne of flavour so it’s important to get this bit right. Finally, don’t skimp on the charring.

My love affair with Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

I learnt to cook this when I was 12 years old and it blew my mind. I thought it was insane to cook aubergines on an open flame until they’re practically incinerated on the outside.

It went against everything I thought to be true about Indian food. However, the very beauty of it was that while the outside burns to a crisp, the inside is cooked until butter-soft and smoky. Perfection.

Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry 1

Some important things to remember when making this aubergine curry:

  • Before you start, make some holes through the aubergines – otherwise there will be explosions and they won’t be fun to clean up.
  • I also recommend you line your gas cooker with aluminium foil. That way once you’re done, you can just lift it off and throw it away. Besides, nobody wants to be scrubbing their cooker for hours.
  • You’ll only be using the inner flesh of the aubergine in the curry. As a result, the charred skin will eventually be discarded. Therefore, try to think about the skin as a protective layer that needs to be charred for the greater good of the flesh. Wow, that got philosophical quickly!

What can I add instead of spinach?

I’ve added spinach to this but to make classic Gujarati Oroh, simply leave it out. I like the combination of leafy green spinach and melt-in-the-mouth aubergine. Similarly, I’ve made this successfully with kale. Note: kale takes longer to cook than spinach so keep this in mind when simmering for a final time. It’s likely to take around 10-15 minutes longer.

How to serve Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Serve with hot, buttery Gujarati Chapattis.

Burnt Aubergine & Spinach Curry 10 Easy Veg Curries for Roti

Melt-in-the-Mouth Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry

Smoky aubergine cooked over an open flame + a WHOLE HEAD of garlic! This Indian Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry is a sure-fire hit with spice lovers. Yum!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: aubergine, curry, grilled, spinach, vegan
Servings: 4
Author: Sanjana

Ingredients

  • 3 large, aubergines eggplant
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil or any flavourless oil
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp asafoetida optional
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 8 large cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
  • 3 hot green chillies finely chopped
  • 390g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp ground cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 250 g baby leaf spinach washed and squeezed of excess water
  • Fresh coriander, lemon wedges and chopped green chillies to garnish

Instructions

  • Make around 10 holes in each aubergine and place one on each burner of your gas cooker. Turn the flame on high and cook the aubergines for 8 minutes. Don’t touch or move them during this time. Trust me.
    Burning aubergines
  • Once 8 minutes have passed, use tongs to turn them over and cook the other sides for 8 minutes, again not moving them. Steam will escape from the holes you’ve made. It’s important not to leave the kitchen during this time! Open a window too. Once charred on the outside, use tongs to place each aubergine onto a plate and set aside to cool.
    Burnt fire-cooked aubergines
  • In a large pan, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds and optional asafoetida. Cook for a minute and then add the onions. Allow to cook on a medium heat until golden, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic and chillies and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
  • Tip in the tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients except for the spinach and freshly-chopped coriander. Cook for around 15 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce is thick and the oil begins to separate from the tomatoes slightly.
  • Whilst the sauce is cooking, check the aubergines have cooled enough to handle. Split each aubergine lengthways and scrape out the soft inside. It’s okay if some burnt skin comes away with it but try to remove the large pieces. Chop it all up roughly and add to the tomato sauce along with the spinach. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring all the time until the spinach has wilted and any excess water has evaporated.
  • Serve sprinkled with fresh coriander, chopped green chillies and lemon wedges.

Sanjana’s Notes

  • This curry can be made 48 hours in advance. The flavours get better with time so it’s a great make-ahead recipe!
  • Make a double batch and freeze half for later! Allow the curry to cool completely, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost and room temperature and ensure the curry is piping hot before serving.
  • This curry is traditionally eaten with chapattis and salted lassi. Badasses can add a side of Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney if they like. Yeah, MORE GARLIC!
  • Once your cooker has cooled down completely, you can lift off the foil lining and wipe down as normal.
 
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Smoky aubergine cooked over an open flame + a WHOLE HEAD of garlic! This Indian Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry is a sure-fire hit with spice lovers. Yum!
Smoky aubergine cooked over an open flame + a WHOLE HEAD of garlic! This Indian Burnt Aubergine and Spinach Curry is a sure-fire hit with spice lovers. Yum!
The most amazing Indian vegetarian dish you'll make again and again. 20,000 have already pinned it!
The most amazing Indian vegetarian dish you’ll make again and again. 20,000 have already pinned it!

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Recipe Rating




afra

Saturday 24th of August 2024

Lovely! I did take the easy way and roasted the aubergine under the grill in the oven. But other than that I stuck to the recipe. It was a success with everyone!

Hibber

Sunday 31st of March 2024

This was delicious and I'm definitely going to keep making. I made this in a camp-like setting where there was locally grown skinny eggplant. I burned the eggplant over hot coals. They cooked fairly quickly and I turned them on each side. The taste of the eggplant flesh was smoky and delicious. It was my first time making bhaigan bharta.

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Anna

Tuesday 3rd of May 2022

It tastes soo good! I'm so happy that I have found this recipe because most of the aubergine recipes said to cook the aubergine in oil what I don't like. This method adds an amazing smoky flavour to the curry. Thank you so much!