30 August

I have always been a huge fan of baked or roasted vegetables and seafood. Roasting is such a healthy and delicious way to prepare your vegetables. The dry heat of the oven caramelizes the natural sugars in vegetables, which brings about an amazing depth of flavor. The result is a sweet, nutty, toasty flavor. And moreover they are easy to make. It practically cooks on its own! And that's why they are the perfect things for a weeknight dinner when you don't need to spend too much time in the kitchen.

These aubergines will be melt in the mouth soft with a crispy caramelized texture somewhat similar to the Bengali Begun Bhaja but a little more healthy counterpart. For the seasoning sauce you can practically use anything you love. I have made this using the Buldak sauce left over from some Korean ramen packet. But if you don't have Buldak sauce available, then just go for the traditional Chinese sauce mix with honey, soya sauce and garlic and it still tastes amazing like hell! I had this roasted aubergine with steamed rice and moong daal the same way we Bengalis consume Begun bhaja. But if you want you can have them with any side of your choice. It pairs up well with pretty much any sides.

Tips for making good roasted vegetables:

1. Slice veggies evenly to ensure even cooking
2. Don't skimp on the Oil - Oil helps the vegetables cook more evenly and crisp. It also adds a rich flavor that makes roasted vegetables irresistible.
3. Don't over crowd the baking sheet  - allow everything to sit in a single layer. Crowding will make the vegetables steam instead of roast, and that’s the opposite of what we want.
4. Season well - Be very generous with the seasoning, that's what is going to add all the beautiful taste and flavor
5. Perfect Temperature - 200 degree Celsius / 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for most roasted vegetables. It allows for a crispy, perfectly browned exterior and a fork tender interior. It does vary based on the water content in the vegetable. Vegetables with more water content needs higher temperature. But when in doubt, go for 200C/400F.
6. Prefer cooking without Parchment paper - While parchment paper helps in easy cleaning of the sheet pan, but it prevents even roasting. So it is always recommended to use the sheet pan without the parchment paper

Score the Aubergine and apply the sauce generously