Seriously Meatless: Baingan Aloo Charchari Recipe

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoons butter (or omit the vegetable oil and use 6 tablespoons of ghee)
• 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 2 serrano chiles, seeded and slivered
• 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida powder
• 6 curry leaves (if available)
• 1 1/4 pounds waxy potatoes, 1-inch dice
• 1 medium eggplant, about 1 pound, unpeeled, 1-inch dice
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspooon turmeric powder
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• garnish: cilantro or thinly sliced green onions

1. In a large, fairly deep pot (like a Dutch oven), heat the oil and butter over a medium flame. Add the mustard seeds, ginger, chiles and Asafoetida powder. Fry until the mustard seeds begin to pop.
2. Immediately add all of the remaining ingredients (except the garnish) and 1 1/4 cup of water. Stir once, bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cover lightly, enough so that some steam will cook the top layer of vegetables. You don't want to serve raw eggplant. Or potatoes.
3. Without stirring, cook until the vegetables are quite tender. If necessary, add a bit more water but no more than a couple tablespoons at a time.
4. When the vegetables are done, remove the lid, raise the heat slightly, and cook until the liquid is gone and you hear a frying/sizzling sound on the bottom of the pot. You can probe the bottom a little with a spoon to see what is going on. We aren't looking for burned food--when you can feel a little bit of crust forming, turn off the heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Then stir it all together, garnish, and serve.

vegetable oil, butter, black mustard seeds, ginger, serrano chiles, asafoetida powder, curry, potatoes, eggplant, water, turmeric powder, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, ground cloves, fennel seeds, ground nutmeg, salt, cilantro

Taken from www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/09/baingan-aloo-charchari-indian-vegetarian-recipe.html (may not work)