Here’s another one of the dishes my mom would prepare when we were kids which we refused to eat. Her way of getting us to eat it was to cook it without the curry and add leftover stew chicken, pork or beef near the end of the cooking process. Today when she visits I get her to make it several ways.. curry, without curry and I still love adding leftover stewed meats. My dad, the saltfish king that he is only likes this if there’s pieces of salted cod added near the end. According to him, this is the ONLY way this dish should be made.
This version is completely vegetarian, but feel free to add any leftover stewed (Caribbean style) meats you may have in your fridge. Also remember that if you’re looking for a truly unique twist to this, do as my dad would recommend and add some strips of dry salted fish. All you’ll have to do is soak the dried saltfish in hot water, then drain/rinse, shred and add to the pot about 5 minutes at the end of cooking.
You’ll need…
1 eggplant (baigan) about 1-2 lbs – peeled and cubed
1 small onion diced
2 cloves crushed
3 tablespoons water
3 small potatoes cubed
1 tablespoon madras curry powder
1 1/2 tablespoon oil
1/4 teaspoon green seasoning (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper
1/4 hot pepper (habanero, scotch bonnet or chilli)
* I”ve also seen people prepare this dish without peeling the eggplant. Personally I find that the skin causes the finished dish to be over-powered with the flavour of the eggplant.
Start off by peeling and dicing the eggplant and potato into cubes (set aside in a bowl). Then peel and slice the onion, pepper and crush the garlic.
Pour the oil in a fairly deep saucepan and heat on medium to high heat. When the oil is hot add the curry powder and stir for about 3 minutes, then add the onion, garlic and hot pepper. Allow this to cook for another couple minutes, then add about 3 tablespoons of water and using a spoon try to scrape the pot so the bit of cooked curry will release from the bottom of the pan. When this dries back down (see image below) start adding the cubed eggplant, potato, salt and black pepper (add the green seasoning mix at this point as well – optional). Then reduce to the lowest setting on your stove with the pot covered. Stir occasionally and keep an eye on things. It will release some natural juices which should be enough for it to cook without burning, but if you notice that it starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, it means that your heat may still be a bit too high… add a few tablespoons of water and place the pot on a smaller burner where the heat will be lower.
Allow this to cook for about 25 minutes or until the potato is fully cooked and the eggplant starts to dissolve and marry with the potato. Though not the prettiest looking dish, it’s packed with flavour and quite tasty when paired with roti, fry bake or any type of flat bread you may have.
I believe the word “baigan” is Indian in origin and it made it’s way to the Caribbean with the indentured workers that came to the Caribbean in the 1800’s. Do leave me your comments below.
Happy Cooking!
Chris… I remember my mom making this when I was a child, it was a quick go to dish when friends would come by. This and dosti roti was the norm. Today I cooked your red beans and rice and on the side I have cabbage, carrots cooked up with onions garlic. Delish, I can’t wait to lick it up man. Thanks soldier you are an inspiration. Blessings
If you must add plantain, you can put boiled plantain in at the end like you would the salt fish. It won’t be too mushy that way. For me, that would be too many flavours going on in the same pot. I would just have the plantain on the side.
Chris.. Do you happen to know how to make homemade wine Trini style? My dad used to make it when I was a child but he passed away before I had a chance to learn. Thanks, Blessings
If you can get tannia you will bite your finger. The tannia is sweeter and not as dry as eddoes and aloo.
I love this dish especially if you add chicken or pig tails to it.
Can we please get some desserts and cocktails/drinks?
Hi, I prepare such dish in summer.I peel the eggplant in stripes.and as spices I use pepper,corriander,parsley.It is very tasty.I shall
try your recipe,too.Thank you very much.
Hi all,
This dish will also taste well if you add a bit of achaar masala to the curry and about two tomatoes to the baigan and alloo.
Chris,
If you add a bit of achaar masala (the black one) to the curry, and about two tomatoes to the recipe, you will bite your fingers, especially if the sada roti is a bit crisp or burnt a bit.
Do you have a recipe for curry chicken breast with chana??
I really need it spelled out for me I’m afraid to over cook the chicken breast
I am a trini.So glad I found this site. LUV it!!!!
Thanks for the vegeterian dishes, not particularly a fan of eggplant but it sure looks tempting, certainly will try soon.
OMG it was goooood but I put cumin on top of it. And it was one of the easiest meals I've ever made…. thank you Chris ;0)
Chris, I have to agree with your dad, salt fish or nothing in baigan curry. I also used eddoes instead of potato, its awesome with the salt fish. I usually fry the fish first then add it to the baigan curry. You can also use shrimp for a different flavour.
Guess what, Chris? I just happened to have 3 gorgeous melongen AKA baigan sitting on my counter that I picked up from last week's farmer's market. I know what I'm having for dinner tonight. I need some extra protein though, so I think I will try some ground beef or some salt fish if I have any in the fridge. Thanks for another great recipe!
Hello my name is nicole and i would love to know how to make sada roti and normal roti without the peas. Thank you…. NICOLE
See: https://caribbeanpot.com/make-room-for-sada-roti-p… There's also a buss up shut roti recipe if you look on the main page Nicloe. let me know if this is what you had in mind.
Re: Ron. To be quite honest I don’t know. I do know that we have a way of preparing green bananas that pretty similar to this recipe (like a curry potato, just you use green bananas). I fear that the green plantain my be a bit tough (texture) and the ripe plantin may add a sweet level of flavour and also risk it getting mushy texture.
Tough to say. Maybe someone else on here can comment?
happy cooking
Chris
.-= Chris De La Rosa´s last blog ..How to make green Mango Chutney. =-.
Hi
I’ve just found this website as I’m interested in trying Caribbean cooking.
Would this recipe work using plantain instead of potato?
I don't think so, plaintain is too tender and would melt in the pot.
nope i dont think so at all