An easy appetizer to sip with some wine. Eggplant with Paneer scramble aka Paneer-bhaingan bhurji is so good topped on a lightly buttered and toasted french bread. The perfect summer pick me up. Thanks to Revol cookware for sponsoring this post.
Right now, I am over the moon thrilled and thankful to all of you for reading my previous post about my book announcement. It has been one of the most read posts in the last many months and that shows how supportive you are. Thank you!! I will fill in more details very soon. For now, sharing one of the dishes I enjoy making for company or just for the family with some rotis.
Indians have a love affair with paneer. Before we were introduced to mozzerella, parm or all the variety of cheese that’s available now, we knew only paneer in India. It’s often compared to ricotta or halloumi. We use it in curries, grill it and even deep fry it. I often find myself scooping just one more nibble of chewy, milky-tasting paneer from the dish long after I’m officially full. It’s that delicious.
Paneer is a fresh cheese, no aging or culturing required. It’s also one of the easiest cheeses to make at home. If you have a pot, a strainer, and some cheesecloth, you can have fresh homemade paneer/cheese in about 30 minutes. All you need is milk, lemon juice or vinegar, and a bit of salt to season. When you mix the milk and lemon juice, the acidity in the lemon juice will cause the milk to separate into curds and whey. The slurry magically blends, then splits, with a layer of thick soft crumbly cheese. I add a cup of ice cubes to stop the cheese from over cooking and getting rubbery. Remove the whey and press the curds, and you have a tasty, simple easy cheese, paneer. It doesn’t melt nor is it tangy, it holds it’s shape when pressed or weighed down with something heavy. Cut into squares and add it to curries.
Eggplant is something I wasn’t fond off, but eventually have fallen in love with. Grilling the eggplant or baking it at a high temperature gives this dish a slight smokey flavor and adds a special something. It’s a Eggplant/bhaingan bhurji and paneer bhurji combined.
This started as a recipe for the book and then got twisted for the blog. I am always looking for everyday simple lunch or dinner which can be put together relatively quickly, and can be entertained with also. During the summer holidays, I enjoy having friends for coffee and snack, and this works so good. I bake these in small shallow baking dishes, to serve in, but a large any dish works great as well. Put out some thinly cut fresh bread, some chutneys and there is a meal.
I can’t say enough good things about this dish, you have to give it a try.
Thanks for reading. Have a great day!!
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Have a fabulous week.
- 1 liter whole milk or 4 cups
- 2 tsp lemon juice, Juice from a whole lemon
- ½ cup of ice cubes
- 1 eggplant
- 1+1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ onion, peeled and finely diced
- 2 green chilies, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp chili powder(hot)
- ½ tbsp garam masala
- 3-4 tbsp of finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp of shredded mozzarella
- 1 small fistful of basil, washed
- 2 tbsp walnuts
- 3 whole garilc, peeled
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ⅓ salt
- pepper
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- French bread, sliced diagonally
- ¼ red onion, very finely chopped
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- In a sauce pan, add the milk and bring it to a boil. Once you see the milk boil, add the lemon juice and keep mixing it. You will see the milk curdle and when you see the milk solids separate from the whey, switch off the flame. Add the ice cubes to cool off the cheese. Let the cheese settle for 2 minutes and drain it in a cheese cloth or a thin strainer. Add a cloth over it and a weight on it so the extra water will drain off. Let it stand for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Brush the eggplant with 1 tbsp oil and bake it in a hot 400 degrees oven for 30 minutes. Take it out and let rest for 15 minutes and peel the skin. Finely chop it, set aside.
- In a saute pan, add 1 tbsp oil and once it gets hot, add the cumin and let it brown. Add the onion and saute until it softens for about 1 minute. Add the green chilies, ginger garlic paste and saute for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, salt, turmeric and chili powder and saute on medium heat for a minute. Add 2 tbsp of water and let the spices cook. Keep sauteing for 2-3 minutes. If it gets too dry, add another few tablespoons of water.
- Add the chopped eggplant, garam masala and turn the heat to low and cook on low for 5-7 minutes. Add the drained paneer and toss well. Turn the heat to high and let it brown for 2 minutes tossing regularly.
- Turn off the heat and add the cilantro, mix well.
- Grind the basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper, lemon juice. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400 or turn the broiler.
- When you are ready to assemble, take a oven proof dish, add the eggplant-paneer bhurji and top it with mozzarella cheese and bake until the cheese browns and melts.
- Arrange the bread on a board.
- Top it with some warm eggplant-paneer bhurji, top with some onion, some pesto and garlic with some fresh basil leaves.
This looks awesome! Cool that you even made your own paneer.
So, the process for making paneer is similar to making buttermilk! We’re so trying this one out at home! How long does it keep in the fridge afterwards Ash?
We love eggplants ourselves, especially the white -sweeter- variety. Did you ever try it?
Thank you for the amazing post sweetie, much appreciated!
xoxoxo
Similar to making buttermilk. So the fresh cheese can be refrigerated upto 3-4 days. And I LOVE white eggplants. We used to get it in India, but here it’s rarely available. You are lucky.
My pleasure, and thanks always for stopping by to check out the post. Hope you both are doing wonderful.
xox
So so elated about your upcoming book, Asha! I;ve been on vacay mode and now catching up with blog reading and your Eggplant with Paneer scramble (Paneer-bhaingan bhurji) sounds so so scrumptious! I think I’d be digging into this way after I was full too! I haven’t ever made paneer at home – but I so do enjoy it at friend’s home! Thanks for sharing and hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend! xoxo
I developed a taste for eggplants only when I was in my early twenties. I love them now and I love paneer like there is no tomorrow. Can have it every single day! The spread sounds so amazing and I am really intrigued by how these two taste together.
This looks unreal Asha. So gorgeous. I would never have thought of combining paneer with baingan. Very creative dish indeed.
I must say that paneer and baingan is a rather peculiar combination. Very interesting! And the photos are amazing as usual. 🙂
I’ve never made my own paneer for some reason. Probably because it’s so easy to buy! Bet homemade is better. Anyway, terrific looking dish — so full of flavor. Thanks!
That sounds like a delicious combo Asha….eggplant & Paneer! Serving it as a bruschetta is a wonderful idea!
This sounds so incredible, I am going to try it this weekend 🙂 I might make for brunch 🙂
I’m so glad you wrote about homemade paneer! It’s hard to find around here, so now I can make my own! Now about this spread… eggplant is one of my favorite veggies. I adore the smoky flavor a roasted eggplant yields in any recipe. This is going on the list! Thank you for sharing Asha and yahooo on your book! 😀