For August’s edition of #RPLRecipeClub, enjoy the smoky, spicy flavors of Baingan Bharta. This beloved Indian eggplant dish has a silky, jammy texture and a smoky aroma that will keep you coming back for more.
Table of Contents
1. What is the RPL Recipe Club?
2. Last Month’s Winner
3. August 2023 Recipe
4. August 2023 Prize
5. Details and FAQ
What is the RPL Recipe Club?
Each month I pick one Rainbow Plant Life recipe for the RPL community to cook. You can prepare it just for fun or enter to win a prize—newsletter subscribers are eligible for the monthly giveaway.
How to participate:
Participation is simple. Follow these steps:
- Sign up for the Rainbow Plant Life newsletter (only subscribers are eligible to win, but anyone can participate).
- Make this month’s recipe, photograph it, and email your photo to [email protected] with the subject line “Recipe Club” by 11:59pm on the last day of the month. Email entries are entered into the monthly prize drawing.
At the end of each month we randomly select a winner and share our favorite photos here.
Last Month’s Winner
The winner of the July 2023 RPL Recipe Club is Alicja from Australia. Congratulations to Alicja, and thank you to everyone who entered—your photos were wonderful!
August 2023 Recipe: Baingan Bharta!
Baingan Bharta is a perfect way to celebrate eggplant season. Whole eggplants are roasted over an open flame until charred, infusing them with a deep smoky flavor. The flesh is then mashed and cooked with tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, green chiles, and warming spices like coriander and red chile powder. The result is a richly flavored, satisfying dish with a wonderful balance of smokiness, acidity, and spice.
This recipe uses few ingredients and is naturally vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free—making it friendly for many dietary needs. Serve it as a main with homemade vegan naan and a side like gobi manchurian, or pair it with dal tadka or vegan palak paneer as part of a larger spread.
The full blog post includes step‑by‑step instructions, tips for the best results, and substitution ideas—be sure to check the recipe for detailed guidance.
Baingan Bharta
View Recipe
August 2023 Prize:
This month we’re giving away a Vitamix Immersion Blender.
The Vitamix Immersion Blender delivers reliable performance for blending greens, frozen fruit, soups, and more directly in your pot or container. With a 625‑watt motor and five speed settings, it handles a wide range of tasks and produces smooth, consistent results.
International entrants: Because international shipping is costly, we can only ship the physical prize within the 48 contiguous United States. International entrants are still welcome to enter; if an international entry wins, we will send a $150 PayPal payment in lieu of the prize.
Other important details and FAQ
Yes—modifications are allowed, but entries that use animal products are not eligible, as Rainbow Plant Life is a vegan blog.
You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
Yes. You may enter, but the physical prize can only be shipped within the 48 contiguous United States. If an international entry wins, the winner will receive $150 via PayPal instead of the prize.
Winners are selected at random from email entries. Photo quality does not affect the selection, though nice photos are appreciated and may be showcased.
I’m excited to see this month’s entries!
Hugs,
Nisha