For added smokiness, roast the eggplants directly over an open flame instead of using the oven. To enhance the depth of flavour, add a clove of roasted garlic. For a milder taste when using mustard oil, heat the oil until it just starts smoking before adding it to the dish. In Bangladesh, "bhorta" means any vegetable, fish, or pulse mashed with mustard oil, onions, salt, and chillies. It is a centuries-old cooking style rooted in village life where minimal ingredients were available, yet bold flavours were desired. Traditional Bangladeshi meals are structured around rice and a variety of bhortas, bhajis, daal and fish curries.