Home sabzi · 35 minutes
Aloo Baingan Recipe (Potato and Eggplant Sabzi)
Fry eggplant first. Potatoes before eggplant. Kalonji tarka.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenAloo baingan is a homely Pakistani sabzi of potatoes and eggplant in a tomato masala. The eggplant turns mushy and oily while the potatoes stay hard. The fix is part-cooking the potatoes first, frying the eggplant separately until golden, and combining for the final minutes with a kalonji and fennel tarka.
The 3 laws of aloo baingan
Why this recipe works
Together
Even cooking.
Stew
Holds shape.
Plain
Classic aroma.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Sabzi
The NineFoods sabzi gauge
Is it ready?
Press a potato and eggplant.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Eggplant
- Fry eggplant until golden; drain.
Masala and potato
- Crackle kalonji and fennel, fry onion, add tomatoes and spices; add potatoes, cover until tender.
Combine
- Fold in eggplant. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Added too early.
Fix next time
Add at the end.
Why
Cool oil.
Fix next time
Fry eggplant hot.
Why
Not covered.
Fix next time
Cover until tender.
Why
No tarka.
Fix next time
Use kalonji and fennel.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Eggplant | Main | Zucchini |
| Kalonji | Aroma | Cumin |
| Potatoes | Body | Sweet potato |
| Frying | Eggplant | Roast at 220 C |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Roti and raita.
Store
Fridge 2 days.
Reheat
Gently.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it ready) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Aloo Baingan FAQ
How do I stop eggplant going mushy?
Fry it first and add it at the end.
What is kalonji?
Nigella seeds.
Can I roast the eggplant?
Yes, at 220 C until golden.
Is aloo baingan vegan?
Yes.