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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Baghare Baingan -- Teeny-Tiny Stuffed Eggplants

Baghare Baingan, also known as 'Ennai Kathirikaai' or 'Gutti Vankaya'  is one of my hubby's favorite dish and obviously mine.He grew up eating this quite frequently. I curried favors with my MIL, who is telugu, to get the secret recipe. She is quite forthcoming but I feel hesitant to ask recipes for just about every dish she makes. She is a real queen of her kitchen.Some folks are born with that kind of talent and she is one the fortunate few. I modified the original recipe a bit and ended up with this extremely pleasing,delectable bit of deliciousness. Eat this as an appetizer or as a side to Rice/Roti/Bread.

Ingredients:
  • Eggplants - 14 #s, small, quartered without dislodging and with crown intact 
  • Red Onions - 3, medium, chopped
  • Red Chilli - 2
  • Green Chilli - 2
  • Curry Leaves - 4 Stalks
  • Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Asafoetida (Hing) - 1/8 tsp
  • Sesame Seeds - 4 tbsp, toasted
  • Peanuts - 5 tbsp, toasted and dehulled
  • Dessicated Coconut - 3 tbsp
  • Tamarind - Marble-sized
  • Salt for taste
  • Olive oil - 5 tbsp
Procedure:
  • In a thick-bottomed skillet, heat a tbsp of oil and fry the onions, red chilli, green chilli, asafoetida and curry leaves.
  • In a blender, grind the toasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds to a fine powder.
  • Add all the other ingredients including salt to the jar and grind to a coarse thick paste with water.
  • Stuff the eggplants generously with this mixture.
  • Add the remaning 4 tbsp of oil to the pan and drop the stuffed eggplants.
  • Cook on a low flame with sprinkling little water now and then and lid closed.Resist the urge to keep turning the eggplants.
  • Continue cooking until the eggplants are soft and the gravy is thickened to the point of getting dry.
  • Serve hot by itself or as a side to rice/roti/bread.
Tip: Reserve 1 or 2 chillies while grinding the paste. Check for taste and add more if necessary.

Also sending the following recipes to  "Served with Love" event:
Enjoy!

15 comments:

  1. Thanx for visiting my blog and for being my 200th follower..Bhagare baigan looks so yummm,i had tried this once watching vahchef's video,looks too good...

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  2. My my!! How those lovely stuffed Eggplants are tempting me!! I can never try these at home, coz DH would never dare to touch it... May be some day....

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  3. hehehe...So you have posted your version too..:D Looks really yumm and this dry version will be a great starter...

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  4. wow...luks yummy..i love this...eggplant is my all time fav..thanks for the recipe dear!

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  5. wow looks very tempting... will definitely give it a try...

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  6. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Guthi vankaya looks drool worthy.

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  7. The pic of all the ingredients used in stuffing are so tempting & persuading one to try it too... I have never tried anything with stuffing... I think it is high time I tried...some at least... I know it tastes yummy & pleasing.... I will...

    Ash....
    (http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

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  8. Ennai Kathirikaai looks delicious dear! I've heard that telugu people excel this dish !! love the sesame smell in this dish, Mmmmmm, simply heavenly!!

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  9. mmm...one of my favourite!!!! looks really tempting:)

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  10. Baghara baingan is such a delicious curry...that is simply inevitable from my menu. Spicy, juicy and perfect medley of heat.:) Lovely presentation.:)

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