My neighbor gave me a recipe that I'm afraid is full of mystery. This caucasian can't quite wrap my head around some of the directions so here goes.
He calls it "Eggplant Ajantakka".
1. Shallow fry eggplant chunks than add onions and garnish *powder. That is the story. Below is the garnish powder.

Garnish powder:
1 Chana dal 1 cup + udad dal 1 cup > fry or roast with scant oil than mix with cumin, corriander and chillies (fry all together) than grind in a blender.

Clues appreciated.