Indian cuisine is a vast and delightful universe, offering an incredible array of flavors from starters to desserts. Among its many treasures is a humble yet profoundly flavorful side dish known as bharta or chokha. This culinary staple involves mashing roasted or boiled vegetables or meat and blending them with a vibrant mix of raw onions, green chilies, fresh coriander, and the pungent kick of raw mustard oil.
What is Bharta or Chokha?
This dish holds a special place in regional Indian cooking, particularly in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The process of charring or boiling the main ingredient and then mashing it creates a unique, smoky, and comforting texture that pairs perfectly with simple dal and rice or Indian breads like roti and paratha.
8 Must-Try Bharta Varieties
Here is a curated list of eight different types of bharta that can add a burst of authentic flavor to your dining table.
1. Classic Aloo Bharta
Aloo Bharta is a timeless comfort food. To prepare it, you need to boil potatoes, peel them, and mash them thoroughly. The mashed potato is then seasoned with salt, pepper, finely chopped onion, green chili, a generous drizzle of mustard oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and fresh coriander leaves. This simple mix is best enjoyed with steamed rice and dal.
2. Smoky Baigan Bharta
Perhaps the most famous of all, Baigan Bharta is known for its deep, smoky flavor. A large brinjal is roasted over an open flame until the skin is charred. Once peeled, the soft, smoky flesh is mashed and combined with salt, pepper, green chilies, lemon juice, mustard oil, and coriander leaves. It is a perfect companion to litti, dal, or rice.
3. Savory Chicken Bharta
For non-vegetarian lovers, Chicken Bharta offers a delicious alternative. Start by boiling and shredding chicken. Then, prepare a tempering with mustard oil, cumin seeds, chopped onions, and green chilies. Season it with salt, pepper, and red chili powder. Add the shredded chicken to this tempering, mix well, and cook for a few minutes. Garnish with coriander and serve hot with roti or paratha.
4. Festive Suran Bharta
This dish is especially popular during Diwali. Suran Bharta is made with elephant yam, which is boiled, peeled, and mashed. A tempering of mustard oil, mustard seeds, salt, pepper, onion, and green chili is prepared and mixed into the mashed yam. A final garnish of lemon juice and coriander leaves completes this festive dish, ideal with rice and dal or paratha.
5. Simple Arbi Bharta
Arbi Bharta is made from boiled and peeled taro root, which is then mashed. It is seasoned directly with mustard oil, raw onion, green chili, coriander leaves, salt, and pepper. Its straightforward preparation yields a deeply satisfying and earthy flavor.
6. Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Bharta
For a slightly sweet twist, try Pumpkin Bharta. Pumpkin chunks are first sautéed in mustard oil until tender and then allowed to cool. Once cooled, they are mashed and seasoned with onion, green chili, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and coriander leaves. This bharta pairs wonderfully with both rice and roti.
7. Nutritious Sweet Potato Bharta
Sweet Potato Bharta is both healthy and delicious. You can either boil or roast the sweet potatoes. Once mashed, add a tempering of mustard oil, onion, green chilies, salt, and pepper. A dash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of coriander leaves make it ready to be served with roti or paratha.
8. Traditional Parwal Bharta
A specialty from Bihar, Parwal Bharta is made by roasting pointed gourds on an open flame. After roasting, they are mashed and seasoned with salt, pepper, roasted cumin powder, onion, green chili, lemon juice, and coriander leaves. A final topping of mustard oil makes it an authentic dish to enjoy with roti or rice and dal.
Elevate Your Everyday Meal
These eight bharta recipes showcase the incredible diversity and simplicity of Indian home cooking. They are more than just side dishes; they are flavor-packed accompaniments that can transform a simple meal into a memorable feast. Their easy preparation and use of wholesome ingredients make them a perfect addition to your weekly menu, allowing you to explore the rich tapestry of regional Indian flavors from your own kitchen.
