Bharli Vangi

This is a very traditional Marathi curry, Bharli Vangi or "Stuffed Eggplant". Whenever you feel like eating something spicy in meals, this is a favorite option in all Marathi families. For this recipe what you need is fresh and small eggplant. It goes great with poli, bhakri or rice.

Ingredients

Small Eggplants (Vangi) - 6-8
For stuffing
Grated dry coconut - 3 tablespoon
Roasted Peanut Powder - 1/2 cup
Roasted Sesame seeds Powder - 2 tablespoon
Nicely chopped onion - 2 medium
Chopped coriander - 1 tablespoon
Garlic paste - 1/2 teaspoon (optional)
Red chili powder - 1, 1/2 teasppon
Goda Masala - 1 teaspoon
Lemon juice - 1 teaspoon
Jaggery - 1 teaspoon
Salt as per taste
For Tadka
Oil - 2 tablespoon
mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Asafetida - 1/4 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Procedure

The first step is to mix all the ingredients of stuffing in a bowl. Now remove the stem of eggplants and give 2 vertical slits to each eggplant. Do not give cut till end. Then stuff each eggplant with the above prepared masala. Heat oil in kadai and make tadka of given ingredients. Now place all the stuffed eggplants. The open side should be facing the oil. Cover it with plate and pour some water on it and let it cook in the oil. By this method eggplants will not stick to the bottom. (this is my Mai aaji's idea). When eggplants changes it's colour, add remaining stuffing, mix wel and cover it again to cook for two minutes. Now add water just to cover the top of the eggplants. Again cover up till eggplants get fully cooked. Garnish it with coriander leaves. As mentioned earlier, goes very well with bhakri, Poli or rice


I think most of you must have knew about this recipe but I specially post this recipe for Sanghai's Fall in Love with purplish Brinjal event. And I wanted to dedicate this recipe to My Grandmother, Mai Aaji. She taught me most of the traditional Maharashtrian recipes. She was a very great cook (In Marathi we say 'Sugran'). I think I can write one separate blog of her recipes and cooking tips & tricks.