Phantok Mosdeng/ Brinjal Mosdeng

November 30, 2019mayurisjikoni
Blog post

EVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY

THEME: TRIPURA CUISINE

A bit about the group:

November took Shhh Cooking Secretly group to Tripura, where I got the opportunity to make a mosdeng, Phantok Mosdeng/Brinjal Mosdeng. This group is where members get together to cook a dish on the decided theme. We are paired up and give each other two secret ingredients to cook with. The group  started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes.is an interesting way to know other food bloggers and try out dishes beyond one’s comfort zone.Other members have to then guess the two secret ingredients till we share the recipe link. Its a fun group and along the way have made some good friends.

shhh

Where is Tripura?

Tripura is one of the Seven Sister States in North East India. Its neighbors are Bangladesh, Assam state and Mizoram state. It is connected to the rest of India by only one major Highway, NH 44 that runs through the hills into the Cachar District in Assam. 91% of the cultivated land produces rice. During the British Raj, Tripura was divided into tow main regions Tiperra District and Tiperra Hills. A place called Unakoti is famous for Hindu Dieties that are etched on  the rocks and dated backs to the 7- 9th Century. Neer Mahal, a floating place built on Rudra Sagar Lake is the only floating palace in NE India. Did you know that the famous music composers SD Burman and RD Burman come from the royal family of Tripura? Also education for kids is free for children between 6-14 years of age. Tripura is also known for its striking architecture, Ujjayanta Palace being a perfec example.

Tripura

Tripura Cuisine

The natives of Tripura largely follow a non vegetarian diet and vegetables are generally prepared as side dishes. Most of their dishes are cooked without oil, use simple spices and are generally served with rice. With a large Bengali community residing in Tripura, fish is an integral part of their cuisine.

  • Mui Borok is the traditional cuisine as its fondly called by the Tripuri people.Usually using berma (dried and fermented fish) and bamboo shoot (muya) are used for the dishes and its served with some vegetables and rice.
  • Being a neighbour with Bangladesh, the more spicier dishes are influenced by Bangladeshi Cuisine. Meats, fish and vegetables are made with spices.
  • Chauk is a traditional rice beer served during ceremonies and festivals.
  • Gudok – the traditional art of cooking a mixture of berma and vegetables in a bamboo shoot is dying. If you find Gudok on any menu then its most probably made in a pan.
  • Wahan is a popular pork dish prepared along with bamboo shoots, jackfruit seeds, raw papaya, rice flour and baking soda.
  • Mosdeng is more like a chutney. Mosdeng serma is made from tomatoes and berma, Phantok mosdeng from brinjals. Its usually served along with the main meal.
  • Muya Awandru is made from berma, bamboo shoots and rice flour.
  • Kosoi Bwtwi is a dish prepared using French beans, berma and served with rice.
  • Awn Bangwi is a dessert made in the Tripura cuisine, made from sticky rice, with cashew nuts, raisins sauteed in ghee. The mixture is filled into banana leaf cones and steamed.

My Tripuri Cuisine Dish – Phantok Mosdeng/Brinjal Mosdeng

Not having any access to a Tripuri Cuisine book, I searched for one on Amazon but didn’t find it useful as most of the recipes are with meat, chicken and fish and bamboo shoots.  Finding a vegetarian recipe for this cuisine has proved to be difficult. I tried to search and understand words connected to Tripuri Cuisine by referring to various websites. Finally, the search took me to Eat your Kappa. While going some of her videos I landed on Phantok Mosdeng. Immediately, I knew I wanted to try out that dish. Armed with that in mind got in touch with my partner.

My Partner

We didn’t have many takers for this cuisine perhaps due to festival season or just that its a difficult cuisine for Vegetarians. Once again my partner was Priya Mahesh who blogs at At 200 deg .Visit her blog for some interesting South Indian dishes. I particularly like her Dantin Soppu (leafy greens prepared with coconut) and the Green Tomatoes Kootu.

Knowing that the Tripura cuisine is limited we suggested to each other what we’d like to cook. Based on that we suggested the ingredients. While Priya gave me onion and chili, I suggested that she uses turmeric and onion for her dish. With those ingredients she made a delicious Kosoi Bwtwi.

Some of the dishes I cooked from North East Indian States

The Seven Sister States have some similarity in the ingredients they use. Being mostly mountainous, they heavily depend on locally grown herbs, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and bamboo shoot. I made a delicious Naga Tomato Chutney from the state of Nagaland. From the state of Mizoram I made a simple but delicious soup Mizo Bai, adding some sweet corn to give it more flavour. Koat Pitha which is famous as a sweet dish from Arunachal Pradesh was a delightful dessert treat.My all time favorite from NE States was Janeiiong, a black sesame seed pulao, a popular rice dish from Meghalaya. When I cooked the Assamese dish Bengana and Shanmehali Xaakor Khar, a healthy mixture of leafy greens and brinjal, I quickly realized that adding khar, (a traditional sodium carbonate like substance made by burning banana stems or peels) was what I’d want to avoid adding. If you ever get black rice then you have to try out Chakhao Poireiton, a black rice phirni from the state of Manipur. As a breakfast treat try out Ragi Temae Tan, a ragi flatbread/paratha.

What Members of the Group Cooked:

Renu, Sujata, Aruna made their version of the famous Mosdeng Serma or Tomato Chutney. Meatless Kosoi Bwtwi was prepared by Priya Mahesh, Sasmita and Narmadha. Shobha tried her hand at Tohan Mosdeng and Priya Satheesh enjoyed Wahan Mosdeng. Seema’s Khichuri is what I loved. Its usually prepared as an offering to Maa Durga during Durga Puja.

tripura food

Phantok Mosdeng / Brinjal Mosdeng

Mosdeng as I mentioned above is more of a chutney that is served with the main meal. The brinjal or eggplant is usually roasted who over hot coal to give it that authentic roasted aroma and taste. However, lacking coal and a Sigri or Jiko I had to roast the eggplant in the oven. I just couldn’t use the number of green chilis suggested in the video, one was enough for the hot factor. Very easy to put together with just four ingredients, it surprisingly turned out to be a very flavorful side dish.

Dietary Tips:

  • its vegan friendly
  • its gluten free
  • keto friendly too

Lets make a modern version of phantek mosdeng.

phantok mosdeng 2

phantok mosdeng 1

phantok mosdeng 3

phantok mosdeng 4

PHANTOK MOSDENG/BRINJAL MOSDENG

Makes about a cupful

1 large eggplant (brinjal) (approx 250g)

1 medium onion finely chopped

1-3 green chilis

½ tsp salt

  1.  Roast the eggplant it on a gas burner flame or in the oven at 180ºC for 25-30 minutes. If you’re roasting it in the oven then cut into half first.
  2. You can also roast the chilllis.
  3. Remove the peel from the roasted eggplant.
  4. Mash the eggplant in a bowl.
  5. Add chopped chili and onion. Also add in the salt.
  6. Mix well, mash a bit more and serve.

Tips:

  • If you can, roast the eggplant or brinjal in a coal fire.
  • Add chilis according to your taste.

Pin for later:

phantok mosdeng 1

A little request:

If you do try this recipe then please either

  • add a comment below,
  • send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
  •  tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
  • or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
 

17 Comments

  • shobhakeshwani

    November 30, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    This is similar to my dish .. only mine was a dry version and this is more like a chutney. The roasted brinjals really add to the flavours. Looks delicious.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 2, 2019 at 9:47 am

      Thanks Shobha, there are so many varieties of mosdeng made in the Tripura cuisine, most famous being the tomato one.

  • Seema Doraiswamy Sriram

    December 1, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    The recipe looks so simple and so much easily dooable. I am quite sure, I will try it this week.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 2, 2019 at 8:59 am

      Thanks Seema, its an easy peasy recipe and doable.

  • Sujata Roy

    December 11, 2019 at 12:31 pm

    Looks delicious. Loved this simple and easy to make dish. This recipe sounds like our begun pora. Difference is we also add raw mustard oil and coriander leaves.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 11, 2019 at 6:08 pm

      Thanks Sujata, I guess since Tripura cuisine is largely a no oil cuisine, mosdeng doesn’t require it.

  • Sasmita Sahoo Samanta

    December 11, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    We odias make this type of bharta. And we do add mustard oil here along with rest other ingredients. Today itself I had this in my lunch. Its a super simple yet flavorful dish

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 11, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      Thanks Sasmita, I’ve had the UP style of bharta which sounds so similar to the one you make.

  • Vasusvegkitchen

    December 15, 2019 at 8:06 pm

    Brinjal Mosdeng looks super delicious, how easy to prepare this chutney with minimum ingredients di. Love to have it with hot steamed rice 😋, the way you presented it is very attractive 👌.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 15, 2019 at 9:43 pm

      Thank you so much Aruna, I was surprised how tasty it was with very few ingredients.

  • Renu Agrawal Dongre

    December 20, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    That looks an easy one with just a few ingredients. So true this cuisine was difficult for us vegetarians. But I loved the simplicity of the dishes cooked with so less ingredients. This Brinjal Mosdeng saga will go perfectly as a spread on my bread, yes I love it that way 🙂

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 20, 2019 at 5:30 pm

      Thanks Renu, I actually had it on its own but yes it would be good with bread.

  • namscorner18

    December 26, 2019 at 10:51 pm

    Love the simplicity of the dishes in this cuisine and roasted brinjal looks so flavorful and delicious. With very few ingredients we can make some exotic dish

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 27, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      That’s true Narmadha, sometimes simple ingredients make the dish the most tastiest, like this Brinjal Mosdeng.

  • Priya Satheesh

    January 2, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    Oh I love brinjal and this is making me drool. Such a delicious chutney with a minimal ingredients.. We also make something similar to this but that includes tadka and ginger.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      January 3, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      Thanks Priya, I too loved it as it had no oil and very few spices.

  • Cocina india por regiones | CocinaSinReceta.com

    December 4, 2021 at 4:46 am

    […] de sus platos son chutneys o similares, como phantok mosdeng, mosdeng serma, o wakere mosdeng. De estos mosdeng algunos son ensaladas, como el wahan mosdeng.Su […]

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