In India, people usually visit vegetable market more frequently than Western world because Indian people prefer to buy fresh vegetables. That is why many people visit local market almost everyday. But during this lockdown period, they can not do so. People who do not have refrigerator suffer more due to this stay at home situation. But people who own a kitchen garden are lucky. I am also blessed with a lot of homegrown brinjals (eggplant) along with some other vegetables during this lockdown time.
Brinjal (baingan in Hindi) is one of the most popular vegetables in India. In Bengali it is called as begun. The color of this vegetable normally purple, green and white. But purple brinjal is the most common. Yellow colored brinjal is also available. Brinjal is available in various size as well as shape.
I have three types of brinjal plants in my rooftop garden. One is small & long purple colored brinjal, another one is small, long & off purple color brinjal and third type is small greenish colored brinjal.
All of those plants are 4-5 months old and producing a few brinjals/eggplants per weeks.
Though brinjal plants are very prone to pest/insects but I have avoided such problem by applying regular organic pesticide (like need oil, 4-5 days old butter milk – diluted, garlic-turmeric extracts etc). But once your plants are attacked by shoot borer, stem borer or any other insects then you may need to apply chemical pesticide. So you should contact experts or local nursery owner or fertilizer & pesticide shopkeeper and get advised accordingly.
When I am saying blessed with homegrown brinjal then I actually mean it.
First, I am getting enough fresh brinjals per week for 3 members of our family
Second, I am harvesting organic brinjal during this lockdown period due to corona virus pandemic
Third, I am saving money
Fourth, We need to go out for less number of time as compared to others for buying fresh vegetables. So we are staying at home and keep ourselves safe
Finally, we are spending quality time with nature during this pandemic and kill our boredom, rather we are enjoying our time
Also read:
Advantages of growing mint/pudina plant during lockdown period
Grow own food during lockdown period due to corona virus pandemic
Though it is said that brinjal is not so nutritious but brinjal lovers does not care it. Are you brinjal lover? Then you will definitely admit this. These are a few very delicious brinjal/eggplant based Indian dishes.
Baingan ka bharta: It is a popular North Indian Dish. Actually, it is not just a North Indian dish but equally popular some other parts of the country too. Nowadays it is normally prepared on gas oven but if you want to get most authentic taste then you should cook it over traditional wood fire (or coal fire) chulha. You will get very special smoky flavor what makes this dish mouthwatering.
Lamba begun bhaja: It is another traditional Indian dish. But it is only popular in West Bengal and Bangladesh. A few years ago, it was the most common food item in any Bengali wedding menu. Many people still enjoy dal & rice with lamba begun bhaja at home.
Beguni (Brinjal/eggplant fritters): It is another very traditional & popular Bengali snack. Here brinjal slices are coated with spicy batter and then deep fried. It is very crispy outside and soft inside. People enjoy beguni with muri (puffed rice) in the evening with a cup of tea.
Delicious brinjal curry: It is a very popular Indian brinjal curry which is prepared with tomatoes and various Indian spices. You can enjoy this with roti/paratha or naan. I love this type of brinjal curry & paratha along with a bowl fresh salad for my dinner. Do you too?
Bengali begun pora: It is another roasted brinjal based dish, a popular item in Bengal. Here begun mean brinjal/eggplant/baingan. Pora means roasted in Bengali. Unlike baingan bharta roasted brinjal is mashed and add some other fresh vegetables like tomato, onion, green chilli etc. But in baingan bharta people cook all those raw vegetables along with various spices and then mix with mashed roasted brinjal/eggplant. So definitely the taste is different. Bengali people love this food a lot.
so these are my most favorite 5 dishes what I prepare very frequently at our kitchen. So how many of those items do yo like? Did you already taste any? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
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