This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Easy Instant Pot Baingan Bharta – Indian Spiced Mashed Eggplant. 1 Pot 30 Min. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. Add chickpeas to make a meal Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe Stovetop option Jump to Recipe  

Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Indian restaurant style Spiced Mashed Eggplant. 1 Pot 30 Mins. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha

Baingan Bharta translates to eggplant mash. The traditional bharta is a long process, Large eggplants are roasted over a flame or grill to char the skin. The skin is them removed and the partially cooked eggplant is mashed. Then added to a spiced onion tomato base and cooked to roast the eggplant with the spices and base. 

In this instant pot version, cubed Eggplant gets pressure cooked with the onion tomato base, then mashed and cooked a bit to roast. Pressure cooking reduces the steps and also uses less bowls, vessels! I add some smoked paprika that adds a fresh smoked flavor that is  generally there in this dish if the eggplant was charred and cookes. Some liquid smoke will do that too, although I find that a bit too strong. 

This spiced eggplant mash also makes a great dip with some hot pita bread. Add some chickpeas to make this into a meal or serve with a side of chickpea curry or dals

This bharta is 1 Pot, needs just 15 mins active time, is Easy and Delicious!

Instant Pot Baingan Bharta - Indian Spiced mashed eggplant in a white bowl, side view, on a grey napkin

More Instant Pot Recipes (all have Saucepan Instructions too!)

Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha  Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha

Tips to get the charred/roasted flavor

  • Finish with fresh Smoked Paprika or some liquid smoke
  • Char the eggplant skin on the high flame just lightly, then peel and cube and proceed to cook.
  • Char the flatbread! Yes, char the roti or flatbread you are serving with so that it has black spots or burnt edges. Together the meal will have a roasted flavor. 🙂

Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. #Vegan #Glutenfree #Nutfree #Soyfree #Recipe #VeganRicha

Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant

4.99 from 56 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main
Cuisine: Gluten-free, Indian, Soy-free
Instant Pot Baingan Bharta Recipe - Spiced Mashed Eggplant. 1 Pot 30 min Serve as dip with flatbread or with curries or Dals. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 3/4 cup onion, (chopped)
  • 1 inch ginger, (finely chopped)
  • 5 cloves of garlic, (finely chopped)
  • 1 hot green chilli, (such as serrano - finely chopped)
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 large tomato, (diced)
  • 1 large eggplant, (peeled and cubed into small about half an inch cubes)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup peas
  • 1/4 cup cilantro

Instructions 

  • Set your instant pot to sauté, once it has heated up, add oil. Let the oil heat up and add the cumin seeds. Cook for half a minute. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, green chili and a good pinch of salt. Cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add all the ground spices and mix well. Then add the tomato and allow to cook for 2 minutes. Mash the larger pieces of tomato and deglaze with a tbsp of water if needed.
  • Once the tomato is tender, add the eggplant, salt, water and give it a good mix. Cancel sauté mode, close the lid, then pressure cook for 9-10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. (Eggplant releases a lot of moisture/water under pressure, so you really need very less added water here)
  • Open the lid and mash the eggplants really well using a potato masher. Taste and adjust the salt and flavor as needed. Add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke for additional smoky flavor. Press sauté mode and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, (cook a few mins longer for thicker and more roasted)  then add the peas and cilantro and mix in. Cancel sauté.
  • Serve hot and garnish with additional cilantro, pepper flakes and sprinkle smoked paprika.

Stovetop instructions:

  • Follow step 1 and 2 over medium heat in a skillet. Add the eggplant and cook for 2 mins to brown some edges. Add salt and water. Cover and cook until the eggplant is tender.
  • Mash the eggplant. And continue to cook for another 5-8 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt and flavor. Add liquid smoke if needed. Add peas and cilantro and take off heat.

Video

Notes

Process the ginger, garlic, onion and chill in a food processor to save time.
Variations: Add a can of chickpeas after mashing the eggplant to make this into a meal. Add more of the spices and salt.
 
Oil-free: Press saute. Toast the cumin seeds in the dry pot until they get fragrant(or do this on a skillet over stove and then add to the instant pot). Add onion, ginger, garlic green chili and 1/4 cup water or broth and cook until translucent. Continue with step 2.
 
Nutrition is for 1 serve

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 2g, Sodium: 442mg, Potassium: 118mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 340IU, Vitamin C: 10.2mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

You May Also Like

4.99 from 56 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online and I love hearing from you all!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

145 Comments

  1. Billy says:

    Delicious! I love eggplant recipes, particularly dips – but this looks so good. Can’t wait to try this at home.

  2. Lynda Haake says:

    5 stars
    I made this as well and it came out perfectly! It was delicious and spiced just right. Thank you, Richa!

  3. Claudia Moore says:

    This recipe looks absolutely wonderful. I plan to make it this weekend. How many cups of cubed eggplant should I use? Eggplants come in so many sizes at the store where I shop. Do you think I could double the recipe in a 6-quart instant pot? Thanks! 🙂

    1. Richa says:

      that bowl takes 3 ish cups of chopped veggies. Yes you can easily double it in a 6 qt. Cooking time is the same. Simmer for a mins longer to reduce after opening.

  4. Vina says:

    Actually, my mom would char the egglant on the gas stove to give it that smokey flavor, then peel it. My sister would use the microwave for easy peeling. It was never really messy; besides that’s exactly what cooking is in general, if you want that true authentic taste. Certain quick methods with certain types of foods, usually result in less than tasty foods.

    1. Richa says:

      that is indeed true that cooking is messy. Many people dont have a flame, so charring becomes difficult. So its an alternate option. half my fam doesnt like the smoky flavor and half does. This way we can control that too! When i make it for mom, i char it just a bit and then proceed.

  5. Judy Richards says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is so delicious and easy! I charred the eggplant over my range to get the smokey flavor. It was very easy to do.

    1. Richa says:

      awesome! yes with a gas flame it works out. although it can get messy really quickly 🙂

  6. Cassie Autumn Tran says:

    Thank you so so much for including a stovetop procedure! I think this eggplant bharta recipe is PERFECT and I don’t have an instant pot. Liquid smoke probably makes it easier to add that smoky flavor instead of using a gas stove, but I have tried that charring method before and it really adds such a unique smoky quality to the eggplant that I ADORE. The peas add such a wonderful flare to the bharta too! I definitely will try this recipe out very soon!

  7. Ruth says:

    Hi did you char the eggplant or simply peeled it? I don’t have a gas stove and can’t really char it. Making this this weekend.

    1. Richa says:

      i peeled it and added directly. See tips section on how you get the smokedflavor

      1. Ruth says:

        5 stars
        This was absolutely awesome and so easy. Definitely will become a staple in my cooking repertoire. Great as a salad dressing/topping too.

        1. Richa says:

          ooh great idea to use in salads

  8. Lynley says:

    5 stars
    Tried this yesterday. I absolutely love it and have shared it with family. I’ve started a google document titled “favourite recipes” and many of your creations are featured there. Thank you for sharing your yummy yummy recipes!

    1. Richa says:

      thats awesome! Thanks!

  9. Sruthi says:

    5 stars
    This is actually genius! I hate bharta because of the smoky taste, and my husband loves the smoky taste. I did recently acquire liquid smoke, and given how late in the recipe it needs to be added, I can take out a portion for myself and then add the liquid smoke! Yay!

    1. Richa says:

      great idea!

  10. Sue says:

    Can’t wait to try this. I love bharta. Thanks Richa

    1. Richa says:

      Thank you Sue!