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    Home » Recipes » Vegetable Recipes

    Eggplant Masala Recipe (Brinjal masala)

    Published: Nov 10, 2020 · Updated: Oct 29, 2023 by Saif Odeh with 21 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Eggplant Masala is a vegetarian Indian dish that is mix with eggplant, chopped tomatoes, spices, and herbs.

    Spicy Eggplant Masala with tomatoes and other spices in a bowl
    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Cooking Recipe Instruction
    • Other Indian Food Recipes
    • Recipe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • đź“‹ Recipe Card
    • đź’¬ Comments

    In my experience, Indian cuisines have one of the best vegetarian dishes in the world. Normally when I had a meal, I need to include protein meat for me to get full. But, eating vegetarian Indian food is an exception.

    One Indian vegan recipe that is my favorite yet simple to make is Eggplant Masala. Some call this dish brinjal masala, which is a northern Indian dish popular among locals. This dish has a rich flavor and great aroma since I add garlic, ginger, red onion, and spices like Garam Masala. This recipe can be serve as a main dish or side dishes which we eat it with flatbre

    What makes this dish red is because I added tomatoes and red chili powder if you like it spicy. In this version of my recipe, I don’t make my masala soupy since I prefer dry masala curry. It makes it better to eat with roti/flatbread or even rice if you like.

    Spicy Eggplant Masala with tomatoes and other spices in a bowl

    Recipe Ingredients

    The ingredient to make eggplant masala requires several spices and herbs to make this recipe.

    Firstly, I am using eggplant as my main vegetable ingredient. You can use aubergine or any kinds of eggplant you like.

    Secondly, I am using ginger, garlic, and onion since it gives pleasant aroma and flavor to my dish. Furthermore, I am using tomatoes and red chili powder (optional if you don’t like spicy) to make my masala red.

    Thirdly, the most important ingredients for my eggplant masala are the spices. You cannot make Indian cuisines without herbs and spices.

    • Turmeric
    • Coriander
    • Garam Masala
    • Cumin Seeds

    Although I forget to include in the picture, Garam Masala is the most important Indian spice since they make the dish flavorful, and it is rich in antioxidants.

    Note: If you don’t have cumin seed, you can instead use cumin powder since they both taste the same.

    Lastly, you need vegetable oil for sautéing the dry ingredients; water for making the tomatoes and spices into a paste & simmering the eggplant; and salt & sugar for taste.

    Cooking Recipe Instruction

    As long you have the spices for this recipe, cooking Eggplant Masala is easy and straight forward.

    Step 1
    Step 2

    Firstly, add vegetable oil to the pan or skillet. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seed and give a stir till it turns brown.

    Step 3
    Step 4

    Next, add ginger and garlic to the pan. Stir to mix before adding the red onions. Stir the onion with the ginger and garlic for few minutes before adding the chopped tomatoes.

    Step 5
    Step 6

    Stir to mix the tomatoes with the rest of the ingredients before adding all the spices. Give a quick mix before adding water to help turn into a paste or sauce.

    Step 7
    Step 8

    Add the chopped eggplants to the pan and stir to mix. Add water again and cover with the lid to let it simmer for 5 minutes or until the eggplant is cooked and soft. Add salt and sugar and stir for one more time before turning off the heat.

    Spicy Eggplant Masala with tomatoes and other spices in a pan

    Other Indian Food Recipes

    If you love Indian cuisines, here are other recipes that I use garam masala as one of my ingredients.

    • Aloo Gobi Matar
    • Vegetable Samosas
    • Prawn Masala

    Recipe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    I. Can you add other vegetables in this eggplant masala?

    There is a similar Indian dish where you add potatoes with eggplant. But, this recipe is called baingan masala which is an eggplant mixed with potatoes.

    II. What can you serve this eggplant dish with?

    Eggplant Masala is best to serve and eat either with rice or Indian flatbread like roti or chapatti. You can also use any flatbread that you like.

    III. How long can this masala recipe last in the fridge?

    In my experience, when I cook food with spices, they can only last in the fridge for up 5 to 7 days.

    IV. Is this dish vegan friendly?

    This brinjal masala eggplant dish is a vegan friendly since I don’t add any animal products or fats. The cooking oil I am using is vegetable based canola oil, and the rest are all plant based herbs and spices.

    đź“‹ Recipe Card

    Eggplant Masala Recipe

    Saif Odeh
    Eggplant Masala is a vegetarian Indian recipe that is mix with
    eggplant, chopped tomatoes, spices and herbs.
    4.72 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 8 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Asian and Pacific Islander Food Recipes
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4
    Calories 155 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cup of chopped eggplants
    • ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
    • ½ teaspoon of turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon of coriander powder
    • 1 tablespoon of garam masala
    • 1 cup of chopped tomatoes
    • 1 cup of chopped onions
    • 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
    • 2 teaspoon of grated garlic
    • Âľ cup of water
    • 3 tablespoon of vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoon of sugar
    • ½ teaspoon of salt

    Instructions
     

    • Add vegetable oil in the pan. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seed and give a stir till it turns brown.
    • Add ginger and garlic. Stir to mix before
      adding the onions. Continue stirring for few minutes until the onion is almost cooked.
    • Add the chopped tomatoes and give a stir before adding all the spices.
    • Add ÂĽ cup of water and stir till it turn into paste or sauce
    • Add the chopped eggplants and stir to combine.
    • Add ½ water and cover with the lid to let it simmer for 5 minutes or until the eggplant is cooked and soft
    • Add salt and sugar and stir for one more time before turning
      off the heat.




    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gSodium: 273mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7g
    Keyword brinjal masala, Eggplant Masala, Eggplant masala recipe
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.72 from 32 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. veenaazmanov

      November 11, 2020 at 6:11 am

      A simple yet delicious veg meal. I like your recipe and definitely need to try it out.

      Reply
    2. Chris Collins

      November 11, 2020 at 10:19 am

      I love eggplant so much so this recipe is right up my street! 🙂

      Reply
      • Saif

        November 11, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Thanks Chris. I love eggplant too.

        Reply
    3. Dannii

      November 11, 2020 at 10:39 am

      I am always looking for new ways to enjoy eggplant, and this looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Saif

        November 11, 2020 at 1:18 pm

        I am glad you like my recipe Dannii. Its very delicious and rich in flavor.

        Reply
    4. beth sachs

      November 11, 2020 at 11:56 am

      So delicious. I served this with homemade pilau rice and chapatis.

      Reply
      • Saif

        November 11, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Rice and chapatis are perfect for this masala dish.

        Reply
      • Jarrod

        July 11, 2022 at 6:35 pm

        Delicious! Very flavorful, quick & easy!!
        We do not add sugar or sweeteners to anything, however, we thought it needed additional sweetness when trying it without sugar, so we added 12 oz of chopped butternut squash with the eggplant. This gave it the touch of sweetness it needed for our taste.

        Reply
        • Saif Al Deen Odeh

          July 27, 2022 at 4:23 am

          Thanks for sharing your experience Jarrod. Butternut squash is a perfect alternative to sugar

          Reply
    5. Natalie

      November 11, 2020 at 1:36 pm

      I never tried eggplant masala. Sounds like a delicious dish with all these amazing spices inside. I will definitely make this for dinner.

      Reply
      • Saif

        November 12, 2020 at 3:33 am

        Thanks Natalie. I am sure you will love it. It is flavorful, healthy and delicious.

        Reply
    6. Beth

      November 17, 2020 at 3:13 am

      This looks so delicious and tasty! My husband is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Saif

        November 17, 2020 at 7:01 am

        I am sure you are going to love it Beth. Thanks

        Reply
    7. Sue

      November 17, 2020 at 4:04 am

      I love eggplant and now I have another way to make it - thanks!

      Reply
    8. Nathan

      November 17, 2020 at 4:50 am

      This looks so tasty! I'm a big fan of eggplant so I'm excited to try it out 🙂

      Reply
    9. Maria

      November 19, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      I love eggplants and this one is very delicious! Can't wait to try this out! <3

      Reply
    10. Nisha

      December 01, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      This looks so colorful and delicious , nice combination with rice or wheat bread!

      Reply
    11. Purity

      May 09, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      Dear Saif,

      Greetings from Nairobi...

      I made this recipe today. It was so good. Thank you for sharing it. I added meat because we're not vegetarian. It was do good. Will be making it more often.

      Reply
    12. M

      October 10, 2022 at 9:41 am

      Thank you, this is soooo yummy! I had it with flatbread and a bit of greek yoghurt.

      Reply
    13. Kenrick Fearn

      September 24, 2023 at 6:47 am

      Not sure why you needed to add sugar in this recipe as the tomatoes will add plenty of their own sweetness to the dish …other than the unnecessary inclusion of sugar…it’s an excellent recipe…thanks for posting it .

      Reply
      • Saif Al Deen Odeh

        September 26, 2023 at 1:39 am

        Hi Kenrick

        Thanks for your comment. That's because not all tomatoes are sweet especially if it's unripe. In my experience, some tomatoes I have are a bit sour, which is why I added brown sugar to compensate it.

        If your tomatoes are sweet then no need to add sugar.

        Reply

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