Sweet, spicy and tangy, this lightened up version of the classic Lake Palace Hotel Aubergine recipe makes a perfect side; or pair it with sweet yellow rice or naan for a simple, satisfying meal.
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What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
The magic of this tangy-sweet Indian Eggplant is in the sauce – a blend of tomatoes ginger, garlic, and essential Indian spices that will make your kitchen smell amazing.
This mildly spicy, subtly sweet side dish can be served immediately after it comes out of the oven, but we often put it in the fridge because it's just as delicious cold as it is warm.
Serve it up with a simple dal, raita, and naan, and you've got yourself a wonderful vegetarian meal. Add a hearty curried protein and some Muhammara and you've got yourself a feast! (We also love to serve it warm for breakfast, topped with a poached egg.)
How We Lightened Up Lake Palace Aubergines
This easy Indian eggplant recipe is a lightened-up version of the recipe that made me love eggplant: Madhur Jaffney's Lake Palace Hotel Aubergines.
We made two substantial changes to the original Lake Palace recipe: we streamlined the cooking process and dramatically lowered the fat content.
Most often in Indian recipes, eggplants (aubergines) are softened by frying them in vegetable oil: the original recipe from which this one was adapted calls for a whopping 1½ cups of vegetable oil!
In an effort to lower the fat score for this dish, we started baking the eggplants instead (thus reducing the oil used by almost 75%) and we loved the results! Indian Eggplant Pickling Style does not suffer at all from reducing the amount of oil used; and IMHO the flavors are fresher and more accessible.
What Goes into this Recipe
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
★ Eggplant: There are many types of eggplants available, but I prefer to use American (Globe) Eggplants or Italian Eggplants for this recipe. I have also made this with Japanese Eggplants with good results.
★ Ginger & Garlic: A few years ago while I was cruising our local Indian grocery, I discovered that you can buy ginger-garlic paste in jars! While it isn't quite the same as making it at home in the blender, it is very handy to keep around.
Ginger and garlic are a match made in heaven, and this stuff is a game-changer! We rub it on chicken before grilling, we use it as a marinade for shrimp, and I use it to flavor countless other things.
Substitutions: In this recipe, you can substitute 3 generous tablespoons of garlic-ginger paste for the 1-inch of fresh ginger and 6 garlic cloves.
★ Tomatoes: I usually use canned tomatoes to make this dish. My favorite canned tomatoes to use for this recipe are petite-cut tomatoes, diced with onions and garlic, fire-roasted, and/or with roasted garlic.
I have also made a delicious version of this recipe using in-season, garden-fresh tomatoes. To use fresh tomatoes, use 3-4 large tomatoes, chopping them first. I break them down farther by squishing them in my hands as I add them to the skillet.
How to Make Lake Palace Hotel Aubergine LIGHT
Baked, Not Fried: Prep Eggplant with FAR Less Oil
Eggplants, as you may know, are a little like sponges, and they soak up a ton of oil when they are fried. This method for baking the eggplant is a great alternative: the amount of oil used is reduced substantially, without any sacrificing either flavor or that delicious, tender, melty eggplant texture.
Prepare Eggplant
Peel the eggplants first if desired, discard the stem and ends, and then slice evenly into half-inch rounds.
Peeling is totally optional, depending on the thickness of your eggplant skins. We leave the peels on about half the time.
In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a cup of warm water. When the salt is fully dissolved, add 4 cups of cold water.
Put the sliced eggplant into the salt water.
Cover the eggplant slices down with a plate that fits inside the rim of the bowl, and then weight the plate so that the eggplant slices fall below the water line.
Allow eggplant to soak for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F | 190°C.
Line a heavy baking sheet with a Silpat mat or parchment paper.
After the eggplant slices have soaked for 30 minutes, drain them and pat dry with paper towels.
Lay prepared eggplant slices on a baking sheet in a single layer with at least ½ inch between slices. You may need to use more than one sheet pan. Do not overlap slices.
Lightly brush or spray eggplant slices on both sides with remaining olive oil.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the underside is lightly browned.
Remove from oven and flip eggplant slices over. Return to oven and bake until second side is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Prepare Sauce
In a small blender or food processor cup, combine ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, salt, and reserve canned tomato liquid. Blend until almost smooth.
In a large, heavy bottom skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high until a droplet of water sizzles in it. When hot, put the fennel and cumin seeds in the skillet and cook until they turn a few shades darker. This will only take a few seconds, so have the other ingredients ready.
Pour in the blended tomato and spice mixture. Stir and cook about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
Bake Eggplant
Preheat oven to 325°F | 165°C.
Layer eggplant and sauce in a casserole dish, beginning with eggplant slices and ending with sauce.
Cover and bake for 20-30 minutes.
Serve warm or cold.
FAQs & Expert Tips
Many recipes call for salting and rinsing eggplant before cooking it to draw out any natural bitterness, but most eggplants sold in the States have been grown to remove any discernible bitterness, so it is usually alright to skip this step if you need to save some time.
Brining, however, does help the eggplant keep its shape when cooked (regardless of cooking method), and seasons it in the process.
Eggplant goes by many names around the world. In this recipe, eggplant and aubergine are use interchangeably.
• Eggplant: The name "eggplant" was given to the fruit by Europeans sometime in the mid-18th century. The size and shape of the fruit was similar to those of goose eggs, and the color was white or yellow, leading to comparison with an egg.
• Aubergine: Commonly used in British English, German, French and Dutch.
• Brinjal or brinjaul: Commonly used in South Asia and South African English.
Serving Suggestions
Sweet, spicy, tangy Indian Eggplant (Baigan Achari) goes well with meat dishes and pulses of all kinds, and works well as a side or vegetarian main dish. We often pair it with Sweet Saffron Rice and garlic naan for a tasty light meal.
Have you tried Muhannara (Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Dip)? It's a delicious, pomegranate-infused spin on hummus, and it goes perfectly with this Baigan Achari recipe, too!
Related Recipes
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Indian Eggplant Pickling Style (Baigan Achari)
Equipment
- 1 Parchment Paper silicone mat
- 1 Blender or immersion blender
- 1 Medium Casserole Dish
Ingredients
- 2 large eggplants
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1½ quarts water
- 5 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 4 cups diced tomatoes drained, liquid reserved; 2 regular cans
- 6-8 cloves garlic
- 1 inch cube fresh ginger coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon whole cumin seeds
Instructions
Prepare Eggplant
- Peel the eggplants first, discard the stem and ends, and then slice evenly into ½ rounds. Peeling is totally optional, depending on the thickness of your eggplant skins. We leave the peels on about half the time.
- In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a cup of warm water. When the salt is fully dissolved, add 4 cups of cold water. Put the sliced eggplant into the salt water. Cover the eggplant slices down with a plate that fits inside the rim of the bowl, and then weight the plate so that the eggplant slices fall below the water line. Allow eggplant to soak for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F | 190°C.Line a heavy baking sheet with a Silpat mat or parchment paper.
- After the eggplant slices have soaked for 30 minutes, drain them and pat dry with paper towels. Lay prepared eggplant slices on a baking sheet in a single layer with at least ½ inch between slices. Lightly brush or spray eggplant slices on both sides with remaining olive oil. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the underside is lightly browned.Remove from oven and flip eggplant slices over. Return to oven and bake until second side is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Prepare Sauce
- In a small blender or food processor cup, combine ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, salt, and reserve canned tomato liquid. Blend until almost smooth.
- In a large, heavy bottom skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high until a droplet of water sizzles in it. When hot, put the fennel and cumin seeds in the skillet and cook until they turn a few shades darker. This will only take a few seconds, so have the other ingredients ready.Pour in the blended tomato and spice mixture. Stir and cook about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
Bake Eggplant
- Preheat oven to 325°F | 165°C.
- Layer eggplant and sauce in a casserole dish, beginning with eggplant slices and ending with sauce. Cover and bake for 20-30 minutes.
- Serve warm or cold.
Notes
Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Originally published March 2015. Post has been updated with new images, content, and recipe instructions for improved reader experience.
Ashley R says
I have never tried eggplant but would love to. This looks delicious!
Sharon says
This recipes makes for a wonderful meatless Monday dish! Add some rice and a nice bowl of fruit and you are good to go.
Renée ♥ says
Sounds perfect!
Heather says
OMG this looks so good. I don't think I've ever tried pickled eggplant, but now I have to!
Renée ♥ says
It's super easy to make, and keeps for over a week in the fridge. I love it for lunch with hummus and pita.
Mimi says
This looks so yummy, I love eggplants
heather @ fit mama real food says
I don't cook with eggplant enough. What a fun and interesting recipe!
Louise says
I was a bit younger Renée. I didn't have much of a choice, thank goodness, eggplant was one of the many vegetable we grew every year in the garden. Right up there with tomatoes!
Any way they are served I LOVE them and your Indian Eggplant looks delicious!!!
Thank you so much for sharing...
Jana says
This sounds amazing! I need to pin it for later!
Jameson Fink says
Great idea to use these same flavors to marinate tofu. And yet to making it breakfast with a poached egg. That and some good toast, what more do you need?
Michelle Goulevitch says
Holy moly that looks good. Well done!
Marlynn [UrbanBlissLife] says
I'm not at all an eggplant fan, but I know people who are and think they would love this!
Kayla says
I've never been a big eggplant eater - but I say that you should always try something at least twice! 🙂
Melinda says
How interesting, I've never thought of pickling and Indian cooking!
Renée ♥ says
It's not really a "pickled" recipe - that's just what this style of preparation is called.