BAINGAN BHAJI - MAHRASHTRIAN STYLE

Bharli Vangi or stuffed Eggplant is a traditional Maharashtrian dish and it is ranked menu item for many functions and weddings in Maharashtra. Today I am sharing an easy recipe which is huge hit in my family .I make it quite often and it turns out delicious every time.

INGREDIENTS:

For GRAVY:

5-6 Eggplants [Baingan]

2 Onion

¼ Cup Grated or chopped Coconut

1 teaspoon Ginger - garlic paste  

2-3 teaspoon Red chilly powder

2 teaspoon Dry coriander powder

2-3 teaspoon Kala masala

1 teaspoon Jeera powder 

Salt as needed

Water for making gravy

Oil

For STUFFING:
2 teaspoon Red chilly powder

2 teaspoon Dry coriander powder

1 teaspoon Jeera powder 

1 teaspoon Kala masala  

½ teaspoon Crushed garlic

Salt as per taste

Water /Oil 

 METHOD:

STEP 1 - Wash baingan and just make a cross slit and keep them in salt water. 

Masala for filling :

 STEP 1 - Mix red chilly powder, dry coriander  powder, jeera powder, kala masala , crushed garlic and salt as per taste. Add little oil and little water to just make the masala wet. Fill it in baingan. Keep aside.

  For gravy :
STEP 1 - Now in a pan, put 1 teaspoon oil, roast onion till dark brown , remove from pan. Add coconut slices/ grated coconut in the same pan and roast. Now cool them and add to a mixer pot with ginger and garlic and make a fine paste.[this is onion-coconut paste mostly I use for my gravies. The detail picture recipe is shared in my blog earlier]

STEP 2 – Heat oil in pan, add the prepared onion  paste, saute it for about 2 minutes, add chilly powder, turmeric, dry coriander powder, kala masala (which is made by my mom for yearly purpose ) and salt.

STEP 3 - Saute it and add biangan and just half cup water and cover it.

STEP 4 - After that, add little water after short intervals instead of adding at a time. It takes time to cook the baingan properly. Cook with the lid. Once they cooked turn off the gas add coriander.

                 Serve it with chapati /rice /bhakari. 

NOTE: *You can make the gravy consistency as per your choice.
           *Salt should be added little less for gravy than your regular measurement, because we had added it in filling masala also .Instead of kala masala you can add goda masala or garam masala.
           * You can make the gravy thick by using less water.