Mogrinu Bhart - Radish Stringbeans & Eggplant Bharta

 

Mogri - as we call Radish string beans in Marathi & Gujarati is a delicacy. I have never seen this vegetable at our local Indian or Farmers' markets, although this is readily available in the freezer section of the local Indian stores. I prefer this vegetable fresh so I sow radish seeds every spring to grow my own "mogri".  Typically there are two varieties of these string beans - purple & green. My mother-in-law pairs only green colored string beans with eggplant for making this bharit.

 

A word of caution - this vegetable has a very pungent flavor and smell. This may be an acquired taste.

 

Mogri nu Bhartu

Radish string Beans with Eggplant Salad
Ingredients

1 big eggplant, bharta variety

1 cup green mogri, cut into bite sized pieces

salt to taste

2 tsp coriander-cumin powder

 

Grind to a smooth paste

3/4 cup cilantro/coriander leaves

3-4 garlic cloves

3-4 green chilies

1" ginger, peeled

 

Tempering 1

1 tbsp oil

1/2 cup minced onion

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

 

Tempering 2

1 tsp oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp chili powder

 

Garnish

1 tbsp minced cilantro

Method
1. Broil, grill or roast eggplant. Remove the outer charred peels. Discard the stem. Mash the eggplant pulp and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a saucepan. Add minced onion and turmeric powder. Saute till onion is soft.
3. Add green masala paste. Saute for about 10-12 minutes on medium flame.
4. Now, add mogri - radish string beans. Add 2 tbsp water. Cover with a lid and cook till mogries are cooked.
5. Add eggplant pulp, coriander-cumin powder and salt to taste.
6. Cook for 10 minutes.
7. Switch off the gas. Just before serving, heat oil in another small saucepan. Add garlic and saute till it changes a shade darker. Switch off the gas. Add chile powder.
8. Drizzle tempered oil over the eggplant.
9. Garnish with cilantro.

Note
1. Although, authentically speaking, only purple string beans are used in this recipe, you may substitute green radish string beans if they are available.
2. A word of caution - this vegetable has a very pungent flavor and smell. This may be an acquired taste.

Pretty Radish flowers that soon will turn into string beans - from my container garden

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