What is Achari Aloo Baingan?
If you like Indian food, particularly north Indian food, then you’re in for a treat. Achari aloo baingan is a Punjabi dish that you make by cooking baby eggplants and potatoes in a blend of Indian spices typically used to make pickles (achar). It’s flavorful, spicy, and tangy. This dish is often eaten with Indian bread, but you can also eat it over rice with some dahi on the side (my preference). I love pairing this dry dish with a saucy dish like my Chicken Curry or my Punjabi Chole. Achari aloo baingan is very easy to make, but I do have to warn you, the list of spices is a bit long – but it’s also necessary to get that perfect chatpata (tangy) achari flavor. Once you gather the spices together – the rest of the dish is smooth sailing.
What Kind of Eggplant Should I Use?
I love using baby eggplants in this dish because they hold up together well, and they also have a bit of a “meaty” texture. That said, I’ve tried this using a large eggplant (cut into pieces), and that also turns out well – but the texture is different – the eggplant pieces melt into the curry. It’s delicious, so if you can’t find baby eggplants, a large eggplant will do. It’ll just look more like this recipe for my Aloo Baingan. Another thing about baby eggplants – they can really vary in size. I buy mine from my local Indian grocery store (or Whole Foods if I find them in stock). Choose eggplants around the size that you see in my picture – if you find the really teeny tiny ones at the Indian grocery store, then use two or three for 1 baby eggplant. If you’re a little “off” on guessing sizes, the dish will still turn out fine. It’s a forgiving recipe. 🙂
Looking for More Achari Recipes?
I love achar, and so naturally, I love achari dishes. If you’re like me and can’t get enough achari, then try my Achari Chicken Kebabs or my Achari Chicken Curry. For those who are new to Indian cuisine: you do not want to serve achari dishes together as the flavor is similar. If you’re looking for dishes that’ll complement this dish, then try the two recipes I recommended earlier in the blog post (Chicken Curry or Chole). If possible, make this a day in advance as it tastes even better the next day! Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
