Friday, November 4, 2011

BAINGAN BHARTA OR SMOKY MASHED EGGPLANTS - A GUEST POST BY TANVI AT "SINFULLY SPICY"

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Once again, I have the honor to share with you another guest post by a lovely blogger whom I hold in high regard and whose work I very much enjoy. This very special person is the delightful Tanvi of the very evocatively named blog "Sinfully Spicy".

This well-travelled native young woman hails from Dehli in India and now lives in USA's most fun city, Las Vegas. Besides baking, she loves to cook North Indian food in an instinctive manner and create fusion recipes influenced by her rich roots. Coming from a family of "super cooks", you'd think that she would also love to eat, yet weirdly it is absolutely not the case!

Tanvi is very talented both in her photography as well as in her cooking. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Being of Asian origin, she is naturally a spice addict and adores well-seasoned grub. Hence, blandness is a word which doesn't exist in her vocabulary.

This lady's
experementative, healthy, colorful, fragrant, traditional, homely, yet elegant everyday style dishes are just exhalirating and amazingly scrumptious looking. Each creation is gracefully as well as attractively staged, the specialities are always accompanied by interesting information and her pictures are outstanding in their purity and apparent lack of fussiness. Visiting her blog is like taking a one way ticket to buoyant India. Wonderfully desorienting and so exotic.

Thank you so much Tanvi for consenting to write this marvelous post for me and accepting to be my host. Your "Baingan Bharta" rocks and as soon as eggplants are back in season, I'll try that lipsmacking speciality!

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It’s a great pleasure to be guest blogging for Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yums today. She has one of the most encouraging & kind blogger around, whom I have been lucky enough to be friends with. Depth of her writing, beauty of her lens & her enthusiasm has always been inspiring.It was a pleasant surprise when she wrote to me for a guest post. Thanks so much Rosa for inviting me to your blog today.

I am here to share one of my favorite winter recipes with her wonderful readers today. There are some things in life,which take you back to your roots no matter where you are in the world! My grandmother used to roast vegetables & bread amongst glowing charcoal pieces of her angithi (traditional indian brazier) while she kept herself warm during harsh north indian winters.We used to flock the angithi as kids to feed ourselves. Sitting miles away, the aroma which fills the house while roasting eggplants for this dish is one of those things I look forward to in my kitchen . It’s a trip down memory-lane which nurtures my heart & soul with the spirit of those days.

"Baingan" is Hindi for eggplant & "Bharta" translates to any kind of mash. No points for guessing - this is mashed eggplant with spices. Its an easy recipe originally from rural north india where a chulla (clay/mud cooking stove) is used to roast the eggplants which are then peeled, mashed and combined with oil & spices. If done the traditional way i.e roasting the eggplant in heat from burning coal or wood,the taste of this dish is divine & most authentic. I think, open grilling is the best way to handle eggplant.


The key thing to keep in mind is that you need to char the eggplants to death. Don’t worry about them getting burnt or looking ugly, the peel will go away but before that, it has to make the flesh tender, concentrate the juices & sugars within & infuse the smokiness. Grills, broilers or stove tops work great to do the job, just be ready for a big time cleaning if you choose to use the stove top as I do J The second important thing to ensure is that even though this is a mash, the texture of the finished dish has to be chunky; hence all the ingredients (even spices), which go in, are either coarsely chopped or pounded. In all "Baingan Bharta" is chunky, smoky & spicy mash!

The dish is best served with flatbread
s and a pickle /chutney / salad on side. You can serve it as a dip. I sometimes fill miniphyllo cups with bharta, top with some pepper jack cheese & bake to serve as appetizers. The ideas to eat are endless..just try your own way.

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~ Baingan Bharta Or Smoky Mashed Eggplants ~
Recipe by Tanvi at "Sinfully Spicy".


Serves 2-3 people.

Ingredients:
1 Large eggplant (about 1lb)
1 Tsp Oil (for rubbing on the eggplant)
3 Tbs Mustard/olive oil

1 Cup chopped red onions
1 Inch Fresh ginger shoot, chopped
4 Cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 Thai green chilies, chopped (adjust to tolerance)
1.25 Cups Chopped tomatoes
1 Tsp Coriander seeds
3-4 Whole dry red chilies (adjust to tolerance)
1/2 Tsp Amchoor (dry mango powder)
1/2 Tsp Garam masala
Salt, to taste
1 Tsp Mustard/olive oil (for drizzle on top, optio
nal)
Cilantro and green chilies chopped (for garnishing)

Directions:
Wash the eggplant and dry the skin with a cloth.
Rub1 tsp of oil all over.

Use any one of the following methods to char the eggplant:
1. This is what I do:
Heat your stovetop on high. Char the whole eggplant, turning with the use of tongs to char on all sides, until the skin has blackened & the flesh is soft. This will take about 20-22 minutes. Keep a watch while you do this.
2. Preheat a grill to medium heat; you can slit the eggplant into half, grill skin side up for 25-30 minutes. If you plan to use an oven, preheat broiler to 325° F (170° C) and roast the eggplant for about 15-20 minutes until skin is burnt & starts to peel off.

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While the eggplant is roasting, pound the coriander seeds and dry red chilies using a mortar & pestle. Set aside.
Once the eggplant has charred, using tongs, transfer it to a plate and let cool down for about 15 minutes. Peel off the charred skin from the eggplant.You can remove seeds if you want. Using a fork, mash the flesh. Set aside.

Heat oil on high in a heavy bottomed pan. When the oil is almost smoky, reduce heat to medium & add the chopped onions. Sauté for about 6-7 minutes or till the onions are translucent but not browned. Next, add the chopped ginger, garlic, green chilies and sauté for 30 seconds or till you smell the aroma. Add the coriander & red chill mixture next and sauté for another 30 seconds. Next, add the chopped tomatoes, set the heat on high again and cook the tomatoes for 7-8 minutes until they soften (but do not mush) and you see oil separating on sides of the pan.
At this point, add the mashed eggplant and salt to taste. Combine everything together, set heat to low and let cook for 3-4 minutes. You will see that the color of the mash deepens & few oil bubbles on the surface as it cooks.

Remove from heat and while still hot, add the dry man
go powder and garam masala. Mix well.

Garnish with loads of chopped cilantro, green chilies, drizzle with some raw mustard/olive oil and serve warm with naan/ chapati (flatbreads).
Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

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94 comments:

  1. Beautiful post, Tanvi!
    Isn't it lovely how food will always keep up connected to our roots...and each other? :)

    Your dish looks and sounds delicious! I'm always up for preparing eggplant in a new and different way. Well done!

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  2. Lovely guest post. Totally tempting!

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  3. That is one dip I would eat by the spoonful! Great photos too!

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  4. bery yummy, would hit the spot on this cold day.

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  5. Mmmm, I love smoky eggplant - and such stunning photos too! Really lovely guest post. xx

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  6. Tes photos sont si belles que j'ai eu envie de planter ma fourchette dedans (rire)
    Bisous et bon WE.

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  7. Love eggplant...especially when it's got that smoky flavour.

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  8. This dish immediately takes me back to my bachelorette days when my gujju roomies used to treat me with all sorts of yummy dishes. This used to be one of their favourites too... :) lovely captures

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  9. Delicious! Pack with such a wonderful spices and very tempting.

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  10. Thanks so much again Rosa for inviting me over.I m speechless after reading my own introduction *red cheeks* :)
    Thanks everyone for the kind comments. It really means a lot.

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  11. Lovely post Tanvi n Rosa :D and Beautiful photos

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  12. magnifique post ! les photos sont superbes et c'est très très appétissant...
    bises et bon weekend, Rosa

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  13. Lovely post, Tanvi! You know I love your cooking and aromatic recipes. This smoky mashed eggplants look deliciously good. Mmmm I'll love to spread this on a slice of crusty french bread now...gorgeous flavors :)

    Great job, Beautiful Ladies!

    Thanks for this guest post, Rosa!

    HUGS <3

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  14. Wow...Beautiful post,congrats to both of u...

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  15. Luce exquisito Rosa una verdadera tentación,maravillosas fotos,abrazos grandes, hugs,hugs

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  16. Gorgeous post and so lovely to see Tanvi here Rosa :D She certainly is a talented woman!!

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  17. Interesting recipe. :) I'll save this for winter for sure!

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  18. Absolutely gorgeous post Tanvi, so much colour and character. It's beautiful!

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  19. Je connais et j'adore! Avec des naans, c'est trop top! And by the way, ta nouvelle banière est très jolie :-)

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  20. Lovely post!!
    I love this eggplant recipe! Bookmarked!

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  21. Do I love that gorgeous dish!
    I think I've got everything to prepare it, and I will!
    Thank you!

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  22. ♡°
    º✿
    º° ✿✿♡°
    Olá, amiga!
    Passei para uma visitinha.
    Berinjela... tudo de bom.
    Bom fim de semana.
    Beijinhos.
    Brasil
    º✿
    º° ✿✿♡°

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  23. Sounds spicy and creamy! I love love love those dishes!!! I've been looking for cute non shiny black bowls. White rice on a white plate has been my biggest irritant lately. (And we eat a LOT of rice)

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  24. Hey Rosa, you chamged the header, I love it! Love this Indian flavor infused eggplant baba ganoush.:) Simply delicious! We love eggplant in this house particularly the hubs.

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  25. I love the new look and layout, it's lovely! That eggplant dish sounds spicy and delicious, I bet it's fantastic on flatbread.

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  26. Very interesting and beautiful post! Thank you for introducing Tanvi's blog.
    The new layout looks gorgeous!

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  27. Rosa and Tanvi, this looks very yummy! I will definitely prepare this. Thanks

    Have a wonderful weekend :)

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  28. Dear Rosa, your blog looks beautiful! And Tanvi this looks delish! This sounds like a wonderful recipe for eggplant and will try it soon!
    Many blessings, your friend, Catherine xo

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  29. Love your gorgeous header, Rosa! And what a delight to see Tanvi here! She is certainly a very talented blogger...and her baigan bharta looks wonderful!

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  30. Hi Rosa! I love the new blog look!

    Tanvi, I love roasted eggplant and this looks yum! I enjoyed reading about your memory of this food and your grandma.

    I'd love to have a lot of flat bread to enjoy this dip. =)

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  31. Beautiful guest post from Tanvi. This recipe makes me want to fire up my grill just so I can smoke or chargrill some beautiful eggplant :)

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  32. Delicious guest post ;-)Love eggplant and I must prepare this too.

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  33. Rosa...it's amazing how you've been putting your time away from blogging to great use ;)
    I not only think your new culinary site reveal is very polished...it feels to me that it resembles and reflects you somewhat better. Am I wrong? I truly feel this new look will give you the encouragement needed to keep posting for your fans.

    Back to the guest post...the eggplant dish was very well thought out and executed...Brava!

    Have a great week,
    Claudia

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  34. Love the new look, Rosa!
    And a super guest post from Tanvi. A wonderful recipe and it's so nice to meet someone via a guest post.

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  35. Rosa your blog looks incredible - great job.

    @Tanvi - How nice to discover your cooking through Rosa. This is definitely my kind of recipe, perfect for those cool evenings and your photos bring a warm glow to my kitchen already.

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  36. Cette cuisine est toujours bien parfumée
    Je te souhaite une belle journée
    Valérie.

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  37. Roas your blog changes look AMAZING!! It is always fun to have a blog facelift :)
    I am not usually a fan of eggplant, but prepared like this it is my favorite Indian food dish. Great guest post! xxoo

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  38. I love eggplant and I think this is wonderful way to eat it. A very dramatic flair.

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  39. Dear Rosa, I would love this!!! I love dishes like this. I am going over to give a look at Sinfully Spicy food blog. Thank you for introducing me to this blog. Blessings, Catherine xo

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  40. Moi qui adore cette cuisine, je suis ravie. C'est un billet en premier classe pour l'Inde que nous offre Rosa.

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  41. So beautiful and so unique. I like eggplant but seldom like the way it's prepared. Weird I know but I think this might be perfect for me!

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  42. This is an amazing dish. I am so glad I am discovering such a nice blog. Thanks.

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  43. I love the new look on your blog, Rosa!
    Great guest post - I am loving the spice and eggplant!! Would be great for dinner! :)

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  44. Yum! What a great guest post. I am such an eggplant fan and am always looking for new recipes. Love the spices!
    -Erin

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  45. la nouvelle mise en page est vraiment chouette, je l'adore !

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  46. Oh I can hardly wait until eggplant are in season again. This dish sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing, Tanvi.

    And thank you to you dear Rosa for introducing us to Tanvi. I must go check out her blog.

    BTW, are you sporting a new look? I LOVE it!!!

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  47. Lovely guest post Rosa....
    I love Tanvi's cooking, it really takes me back home...
    Yummy recipe...

    B/W I love your new banner and new look for the blog. Its beautiful!!

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  48. This is absolutely stunning! The presentation makes you want to sneak through the computer screen and take a few bites.

    Awesome.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  49. Delightful! I am such a lover of eggplants and dip with eggplants, however, I often resort to the traditional lebanese way of cooking them and am really looking to expand my horizon; thank you for doing just that!

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  50. Now I know the reason why you went for hiatus beside holidaying from blogging. You have changed the look of your blog. Beautiful!

    This guest post by Tanvi does look yummy too.

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  51. The flavor of charred eggplant is so good. And, the finished dish looks fantastic with cilantro and chile garnishes!

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  52. Ah, I'm such a fan of Tanvi's. Awesome to see her here with this gorgeous eggplant!

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  53. These recipes look delicious. I like your new look too!

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  54. superbe bannière et très jolie recette..sympa ce concept d'invité! Bises. Bon lundi. Marina

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  55. I am a huge eggplant fan and the dish is my all time fav..great clicks.

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  56. Fun new layout of the blog. I love it.

    best
    Tobias

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  57. Have missed you, Rosa! And gorgeous blog design! I love it! And beautiful Indian food, beautiful photos from Tanvi! And her recipes are wonderful and make me want to prepare Indian food more often!

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  58. Lovely post and great recipe. Thanks for sharing Tanvi.

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  59. I love eggplant and your suggestion looks so scrumptious and moreish!!!
    Cheers,
    Lia.

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  60. Really wonderful to see Tanvi here. It's true that blandness doesn't exist in Tanvi's kitchen. Love those spicy little chilies and the fresh cilantro that top the smoked eggplants. Really delish recipe!

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  61. Ciao Rosy!
    Il tuo nuovo lokk del blog è bellissimo! Sei sempre più brava con le foto e con le ricette:))
    Bacione e grazie per le tue visite:)

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  62. Beautiful guest post by Tanvi! I really enjoy eating baingan bharta, it's the perfect fall comfort food.

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  63. Wonderful photos-it looks so lusciously soft! Hehe the music today really scared me when it came on Rosa!

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  64. Nice guest post Rosa, I often visit Tanvi :-)
    The eggplant looks delicious...mango powder...so interesting.
    Hope you have a nice week ahead and thanks for this nice guest post.

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  65. Im studing architecture about india and also i'm reading a book.. so interisting found also the ricept! ;)
    thanks
    vale

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  66. This is making my mouth water. I must try this!!!

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  67. What a great gusets you have posted;)) And fantatsic idea for a tasty..bit spicy eggplant dip;)

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  68. The bharta looks delicious. Bharta is one of the easiest and yummiest Indian dishes to make. I can eat it just plain without even a roti.

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  69. looks very inviting...I made the same dish very recently and I enjoyed...peeling the skin off after it was pulled out fom the oven:)

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  70. I love eggplants so this is great but I was wondering if I could omit the mango powder?

    Yes, I love spicy food so this is one that I will have a go too. Thank you ladies "D

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  71. I love this dish, I am giving you a +1!!!

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  72. LOVE your new design, Rosa! That said -love this guest post too. The smoky eggplant dip is calling to me. Stunning photos!

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  73. Wow..Luvly post by the guest..Rosa,i jus luv ur new layout and header...Absolutely the best...Pretty and Still pleasant to the eyes..

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  74. Love what you've done to the place, Rosa. And thank you for a delicious post Tanvi,

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  75. Très beau plat, bien savoureux avec tous ces épices!!

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  76. I love aubergines, this looks amazing!

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  77. Ca a l'air vraiment délicieux. J'adore ce mélange de saveurs !
    Bises

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  78. quels parfums !!! je sens ça d'ici :-) bises

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  79. what a stunning bowl of food! seeing cilantro on top immediately tells me that this is something i'd enjoy immensely. :)

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  80. I want to have that for lunch!!! It looks amazing... and it sounds even better!

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  81. Glad to see Tanvi here with her fabulous pictures and drool-worthy recipe! Thanks Rosa for giving us this virtual treat!

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  82. I lOVE the new look Rosa!! thanks for featuring another great food bloggers, so nice to meet new people!!

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  83. Gorgeous post with marvellous recipe of eggplant with taste and spices : I just love that.
    Just looking at your pictures and it seems like I can taste and smell all.
    Bises

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  84. Yum! This looks like the best cocktail appetizer -- ever! ;)

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  85. Beautiful post by Tanvi. Baingan bharta is a flavourful dish. Rosa you have a wonderful blog with on going music. Love it.

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  86. I love eggplant, and this looks and sounds amazing!

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  87. What a beautiful recipe and guest post! And the photos are stunning as always Tanvi :)
    Lovely guest post Rosa!

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  88. First time to your blog. Loved my time here. Beautiful pics and amazing recipes.
    I'm new to blogging and would love it if you could check out my space too.

    Baingan bhartha looks delicious!

    Regards,
    Manju
    Http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com

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