JFI : Baingan Aloo Badi

The one thing that I love about eggpants is that it adapts to everything ... sometimes it blends with the other ingredients and spices and sometimes, it is a contrast to the very same. This is one of my family's favorite eggplant dish. Simple ingredients, and packed with flavor. The softness of the eggplant complements the robust flavor of the potato, radish and dill and the crisp "Badi". Try this once, and you will keep coming back for more.
This is my second contribution for JFI for July whose theme is Eggplant.
1 eggplant, cut into 1" cubes
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup, cubed daikon radish or 3 small red radish, cubed
1 tomato, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1" ginger
A pinch of Hing (Asafoetida)
A handful of Badi
1 tbsp mustard paste
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
1 tsp Panch Phoran
1 tsp each cumin and coriander powder
1/2 tsp each turmeric and red chilli powder
Salt to taste
Oil
Chopped cilantro, for garnish

Grind the garlic and ginger coarsely. Fill a large bowl with cold water and soak the eggplant cubes in it.
Heat about 1 tbsp oil in a wok and fry the Badi's till golden. Remove and keep aside. In the same pan, add a little oil. When the oil heats add Hing, Panch Phoran and ginger-garlic paste. Cook for a minute and then add the potato. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Now add the cubed eggplants, mix well. Cook for 5 minutes and then add turmeric powder + salt + red chilli powder + cumin powder + coriander powder. Mix well, cover and cook for about 7 - 10 minutes. Add 1 cup water + Radish + Tomato. Cover and cook till done. Add mustard paste + dill + Badi and simmer for a minute or two. Garnish with chopped coriander / cilantro and serve hot with steamed rice. Enjoy !!