Nevine's Bagara Baingan (Eggplant with Tempering)

Ingredients

• 1 inch tamarind pulp
• ¾ cup hot water
• 4 tbsp canola/sunflower/vegetable oil
• ½ medium red onion (sliced in half rings)
• 1 ½ tsp ginger paste
• 1 ½ tsp garlic paste
• 3 baby eggplants (thinly sliced crosswise)
• Salt to taste
• 12 oz full-fat yogurt (slightly whipped)
• 1 tsp birista (thinly sliced dried onion (optional))
• Handful of roughly chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp poppy seeds
• 2-4 red chilies
• 4 kadi patta ((curry leaves))
• 4 dried round chilies
• 1 tsp of cumin seeds
• ½ tsp mustard seed