Beguni ( বেগুনি)

 **Beguni (বেগুনি)** is a popular Bengali fritter made by dipping thin slices of eggplant (brinjal) in a seasoned gram flour batter and deep-frying them until crispy. It’s a favorite during monsoons and often served with puffed rice (muri) or as a snack with tea.

### Ingredients:

- **Eggplant (brinjal)** – 1 large (sliced thinly)

- **Gram flour (besan)** – 1 cup

- **Rice flour** – 2 tbsp (for extra crispiness)

- **Turmeric powder** – 1/4 tsp

- **Red chili powder** – 1/2 tsp

- **Nigella seeds (kalonji/kalo jeera)** – 1/2 tsp

- **Baking soda** – a pinch (optional for puffiness)

- **Water** – as needed (to make the batter)

- **Salt** – to taste

- **Oil** – for deep frying

### Instructions:

1. **Prepare the Eggplant**:

   - Wash the eggplant and slice it into thin, long pieces (around 1/4 inch thick).

   - Sprinkle a little salt on the slices and set aside for about 10 minutes. This helps remove excess water and bitterness from the eggplant.

2. **Make the Batter**:

   - In a mixing bowl, combine gram flour, rice flour, turmeric powder, red chili powder, nigella seeds, baking soda (optional), and salt. Gradually add water to make a smooth, thick batter (similar to pancake batter). Make sure there are no lumps.

3. **Heat the Oil**:

   - Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.

4. **Dip and Fry the Eggplant**:

   - Pat the eggplant slices dry with a paper towel. Dip each slice into the batter, ensuring it’s coated evenly on all sides.

   - Carefully place the battered slices into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, turning occasionally to cook both sides evenly.

5. **Drain and Serve**:

   - Once the beguni is crispy and golden, remove from the oil and place them on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

   - Serve hot with puffed rice (muri), mustard sauce (kasundi), or as a side dish with rice and lentils (dal).

### Tips:

- Ensure the oil is hot before adding the beguni, or they will absorb too much oil and become soggy.

- Rice flour gives extra crispiness, but you can skip it if you want a softer texture.