Dahi Baingan - Aubergine In Spicy Yoghurt

Peel the ginger and garlic. Mince or pound them to paste.
In a mixing bowl, place the yogurt together with gram flour, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Add in ⅓ cup of water. Stir and mix well until it’s smooth. Set aside.
Cut and slice the aubergine lengthwise. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt over the aubergine/ eggplant. Leave it to rest for about 5 minutes or until the aubergine sweats. Then rinse it with water and squeeze the aubergine.
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil on a large cooking pan and cook the aubergine at moderate heat. You can put the lid on in between to quicken the cooking process. Steam fry until it’s softened and slightly brown.Set aside.
On the same pan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil and fry the chopped onion, Panch Phoron and cumin seeds. Cook until the onion becomes translucent and all the spices release an aroma. Then add in the ginger-garlic paste. Continue frying for another minute.
Add the spiced yoghurt mixture into the onion and give it a stir. Continue cooking until the yogurt bubbling.
Then put the aubergine in the yogurt mixture and add in 2 tablespoons of water or more if the gravy is too thick. Carefully stir it and put the lid on to cook at low heat. Add the green chillies if using.
Continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until the yogurt sauce bubbling and a little bit of oil separates from the edges. Sprinkle the dried fenugreek leaves (methi) and some chopped coriander leaves before serving (if using).