Begun Bhorta (Bangladeshi Smoked Aubergine Mash)

Name: Begun Bhorta (Bangladeshi Smoked Aubergine Mash)
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Bangladeshi
Ingredients: 2 large aubergines, about 350 g each; 1 red onion, finely chopped; 3 green chillies, finely chopped; 20g fresh coriander, chopped; 3 tbsp mustard oil (gluten free); 2 dried red chillies; 1 tsp salt

Charred aubergine mashed with raw onion, green chilli, coriander and mustard oil. Smoky, sharp and best eaten with plain rice and dal.

Time45 min
LevelEasy
Costabout £0.75 a head
Oven220°C (200°C fan)

Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.

Estimated nutrition per serving

161kcal
11.2gcarbs
6.2gof which sugars
11.8gfat
3.5gsaturates
4.6gprotein
5gfibre
1.6gsalt

A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.

4 servings

Ingredients

Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.

2large auberginesabout 350 g each
1red onionfinely chopped
3green chilliesfinely chopped
20 gfresh corianderchopped
3 tbspmustard oil (gluten free)
2dried red chillies
1 tspsalt

Method

1
Prick the aubergines all over with a fork. Hold them with tongs directly over a gas flame, turning, for about 12 minutes until the skin is black and the flesh collapses. No gas hob? Grill under a very hot grill for 25 minutes, turning, or roast at 220°C (200°C fan) for 45 minutes.
12 min
2
Put the aubergines in a bowl, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Peel off the skin and cut off the stalks. Keep any juices.
3
Mash the flesh with a fork until soft but still a little coarse.
4
Heat 1 tbsp of the mustard oil in a small pan for 30 seconds. Fry the dried chillies for 20 seconds until they darken. Pour the oil and chillies over the aubergine.
0 min 30 s
5
Add the onion, green chillies, coriander, salt and the remaining 2 tbsp raw mustard oil. Mix well and taste. It should be smoky, hot and sharp.
6
Serve at room temperature with rice and dal.

Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.