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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Stuffed Eggplant

Some dishes always retain their exotic status no matter how often you cook them or how common they are at very many dinner tables. Stuffed Eggplant is one such dish. Of the million versions of this classic dish, I try a new each time with little or more success. The recipe below uses Goda masala, a traditional Maharashtrian spice mixture. As expected, it added a lot more flavor to the dish.

Ingredients
Baby eggplants – 8
Dry Coconut powder – 6 tsp
Chopped cilantro – ¼ cup
Tamarind paste – 1 tsp
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 tsp
Red chili powder – 2 tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Goda masala – 1 tsp
Diced garlic – 1 tsp
Grated ginger – 1 tsp
Diced Onion – 1 medium
Asafetida – a pinch
Water – as needed
Oil – 1 tsp
Salt – to taste


Dilute the tamarind paste by adding a little water so that it has syrup like consistency. Add coconut powder, chopped cilantro, cumin, coriander, turmeric and red chili powder, goda masala and salt to form a mixture. Use half of this mixture to fill up the eggplants.

Chop off the top green portion of the baby eggplants. Make 3 slits in each eggplant to carve an opening. Take roughly 1 tsp of the mixture prepared above and stuff the eggplants one by one. Set aside once all are nicely prepped up.

Heat oil in a skillet; add asafetida, diced onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes or until the onions are done. Add the remaining mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and bring to boil. Place the stuffed eggplants one by one in the skillet and cook covered for 30 minutes or so. Do not stir the eggplants too much in between. Alternative transfer the contents of the skillet to a pressure cooker and blow three whistles.

The use of Goda masala made this dish a little extra spicy, just the way we like it sometimes.

Serving suggestions
·         With Roti/Rice

Tips
·         Dry Mango Powder (Amchur) can be used in place of tamarind.

  Interesting fact
·    Eggplant has more nicotine than any other edible plant but not so much as compared to passive smoking.

20 comments:

  1. yum yum yummy recipe. Thanks for sharing.
    Kurinjikathambam

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  2. A fabulous & royal dish!!! And it has goda masala too..!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  3. Nice flavours stuffed in them! I'd love to stuff myself with 'em!

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  4. Aubergine is my fav and this dish never goes out of the menu no matter how many times it is cooked... very tasty blend of spices ... :)
    Reva

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  5. The tips and facts are interesting thanks:P
    Brinjal stuffed masala looks appetizing !

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  6. Love this curry...nice addition of goda masala..:)

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  7. Love eggplants to the core' this is spicy and inviting.

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  8. One of my favorite dish, looks so delicious.

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  9. LOOKS really tempting.........i have been waiting for long time will definitely try

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  10. the goda masala in the aubergine is a good addition ! loved the nicotine fact about the eggplant- useful tips too !

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  11. Slurp, mouthwatering stuffed eggplants, simply inviting..

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  12. i love this recipe....it turns great!!!!!

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  13. Delicious stuffed eggplant..nice and easy recipe!

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  14. Looks delicious recipe..all time fav.

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  15. deliciously succulent eggplant! one of my most preferred recipes of eggplant :) two thumbs going right up!

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  16. Absolutely yummy. My dad is a die hard fan of this dish :)

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  17. I do it too. So tasty and juicy .. hubby's favorite.

    Vardhini
    VardhinisKitchen

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