Air Fryer Stuffed Eggplant Bharwan Baingan

Did you know? Eggplant is the common name in North America, Australia and New Zealand; in British English, it is aubergine, and in South Asia and South Africa, brinjal. In India, we make eggplants in a variety of ways – Aloo Baingan, Baingan Pakora, Baingan Bharta, and this Bharwa Baingan.

Variations

There are many different ways this stuffed eggplant dish is made in India.

I am sharing the most basic one, stuffing the eggplants with just a mixture of spices. This is one of the North Indian styles to make Stuffed Eggplant. Another is to saute finely chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic along with spices, and then stuffing the eggplants with them. In Maharashtra, it is called Bharli Vangi and the stuffing is made with onions, coconut, sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, spices and a touch of jaggery. In Andra, this is called Gutti Vankaya and the stuffing is made with peanuts, coconut, onions and spices. The stuffed eggplants are then cooked in a tamarind flavored sauce and jaggery powder.

So there are really many options to play around with how you make your stuffed eggplants. We have been enjoying making eggplant in the air fryer. The advantage is less oil and the wonderful crispy texture…and not to forget quick! You will also enjoy making Bharwa Bhindi and Bharwa Karela in the air fryer.

How to make Bharwan Baingan in the Air Fryer?

The main ingredients for this recipe are baby eggplants, spices, and some oil. Wash and then dry the eggplants. I don’t cut the stems, as having the stems makes it easier to pick while eating. Apply two cuts starting from the bottom of the eggplant. Mix together all the spices. I used – coriander, turmeric, Kashmiri red chili, cumin, salt, and dry mango powder. I also added a little garlic powder I got from Trader Joes. Do not skip dry mango/amchur powder, as it adds tanginess. You could potentially replace with lemon powder, however I have not tried it. You can add a little oil to the spices, as that helps the spices to stick while filling in the eggplant. With a spoon or knife, fill the spice mixture into the cuts in each eggplant. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer grill pan or basket. I could fit in 8-9 medium one’s in my Philips air fryer. Cook them in the Air Fryer at 360°F for 8-12 minutes. I say a range here, as the time will depend on the size of the eggplants. These babies took about 12 minutes to cook well. Start checking after 8 minutes, and then cook for additional time as needed. As you can see, they look so appetizing! This is one of my favorite Indian eggplant recipes to make in the air fryer.

How to Serve?

We enjoyed some with Green Chutney and the rest for dinner as a side with dal and rice. This Air fryer Bharwa Baingan also goes well as a side with Khichdi.

Helpful Tips

Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. It is best to cook the eggplants in a single layer. The cooking time can vary due to variations in air fryers. Hence, it is best to check after 8 minutes.