The Mysterious Stuffed Eggplant Curry / Kalonji Baingan

Many people do not like eggplant and there is a mystery how to use them to make flavorfull curries. The wonder of indian spices is a vegetable like eggplant can become a exotic dish.

This dish is tradionally known as Kalonji Barvan Baingan. Kalonji/Nigella is a dark and mysterious spice that adds flavorful surprise to this dish that will make eggplants taste superb.

The recipe courtesy goes to vah reh vah . His excitement inspired me to try this wonderfull eggplant curry

Ingredient

• 12 small eggplants/brinjal/baigan of equal size
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1/4 tsp cummin seeds/jeera
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds/sarso
• 1/4 tsp nigella seeds/kalonji
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds/saunf
• 1/8 tsp fenugreek/methi

For stuffing

• 4 red chilli
• 1 tbsp coriander/dhania seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds/sarso
• 1/2 tsp cummin seeds/jeera
• 1/2 tsp nigella seeds/kalonji
• 1 tsp fennal/saunf
• 1/2 tsp ajwain/caraway seeds
• 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds/methi seeds
• 1/2 tsp tumeric powder
• 1 tsp amchur powder
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• salt to taste

Dry roast red chilli, coriander, mustard, cummin, kalonji,methi,ajwain,saunf till the nice aroma will come ,then cool it and make fine powder .

Add turmeric powder,amchur powder,chilli powder and salt and mix properly .Then add little water to this mixture so it binds mildly.

Wash the eggplants ,cut the stem little bit and then cut through the eggplant with a  pluse sign upto the stem as shown in the pic.Stuff the eggplants with the prepared stuffing carefully

Heat oil in the frying pan and add cummin,mustard,kalonji,saunf,and methi seeds and fry till cummin splutters ,once it splutters arrange the stuffed eggplants in the pan and cover the pan with a lid and cook in the low flame .Roll the eggplant occasionally to ensure it cooks on all sides.

Once it soft and cooked on all sides add the remaining leftover masala with some salt and stir softly , cover and cook for another min and swith off the flame

Enjoy you stuffed eggplants with hot steamed rice or rotis 

Spicy Smoked Brinjal for a Lazy Day

This is a dish I learnt from my hubby.Perfect to have on any lazy day when we dont want to be in the kitchen for too long !!So simple to prepare and yet so relishable to eat with plain curd rice or hot steaming rice with a dash of ghee.

The smoky flavor of the brinjals has a unique taste thats hard to describe but taste wonderful. I am sure you would enjoy it too.

Ingredients

• 6 medium sized lengthy brinjals
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 2 tsp chilly powder
• 10 tsp olive oil

Procedure

Partly slit the brinjal along the length partly on one side. Rub a few drops of oil over each brinjal.Place them over the medium flame and slowly roast them turning them on all the sides evenly all over.

While the brinjals are being smoked take a small dish and mix the salt, chilli powder and olive oil into a soft smooth paste.

Once the brinjal are smoked and tender when pressed softly take them off the flame . Fill each brinjal along the length with about 1 tbsp of the paste prepared.

Serve the brinjals with curd rice or with hot rice with a dash of ghee and enjoy your lazy day.