Instant Pot Smoky Eggplant Bhartha

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A simplified smoky eggplant bhartha made effortlessly in the Instant Pot, blending roasted flavors with aromatic spices. This Indian-inspired Instant Pot recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs eggplants, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 130 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 130 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pierce 2 medium eggplants several times with a fork. Place them on the Instant Pot trivet with 1/2 cup water in the base. Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then quick release the pressure.
  2. Step 2: Remove eggplants and allow to cool slightly, then peel off the skin and mash the flesh roughly with a fork.
  3. Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 finely chopped green chili, cooking 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Add 1 large finely chopped tomato, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the tomato softens and the spices are fragrant.
  6. Step 6: Mix in the mashed eggplant and sauté for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens and the flavors meld.
  7. Step 7: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro and serve warm with rice or flatbread.

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