We Indians have great taste when it comes to cooking. Every region of India has a variety of vegetables, curries, spices, cooking styles thus making it paradise to foodies. Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry is one of the delicious curry widely prepared in almost every state of India. Though it has different names, recipe or style of preparation is almost the same.
Eggplant which is widely called as Brinjal in India is one of widely used vegetable in cooking. Brinjal is very rich in fiber and low in calorie & fat.
Benefits of fiber-rich food are;
- Decreases the risk of obesity
- Bowel movements will be improved
- Improves digestion
- Helps to control blood sugar levels
- Adds to a healthy weight
Today we are going to see the recipe of Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry which is very famous in North Karnataka region of India generally known as Enagaayi in Kannada, Gutti Vanakaya in Telugu, Ennai Kathirikkai in Tamil, Bharawaan Baingan in Hindi & Vazhuthananga in Malayalam.
Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry tastes best along with Rotis & Chapathis.
Let’s see the recipe;
Ingredients:
For Stuffing;
Peanuts – 3 tablespoon
Sesame seeds – 2 tablespoon
Grated coconut – 3 tablespoon
Green Chillies – 5 to 6
Garlic – 2 to 3
For Curry:
Eggplant/Brinjal – 7-8
Red Onion – 2
Tomatoes – 2
Olive oil – 2 tablespoon
Mustard seeds – 1/4 tablespoon
Cumin seeds – 1/4 tablespoon
Curry leaves – 4 to 5
Chilli Powder – 1 tablespoon
Turmeric – 1/4 tablespoon
Homemade spice powder: 1 tablespoon
Salt: As per the taste
Preparation Time: 10 mins
How to make Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry
- Heat the pan on medium flame. Add Peanuts and fry for a minute.
- Then add green chilies & garlic. After a minute or less add sesame seeds & coconut. Please note we are adding the ingredients one by one instead of adding all at once. The reason is each ingredient takes its own time, sesame seeds take very less time to fry and start sputtering if you leave them for a longer time on the pan.
- Once all the ingredients turn golden brown turn off the flame and let them cool down.
- Meanwhile, start preparation for curry. Cut the onion & tomatoes into smaller pieces.
- Wash Eggplant or Brinjal and cut them into 4 sections to make the space for stuffing. Don’t cut the stem end. Stem holds the cut eggplant together.
- Now grind the fried mixture with little salt and water. Don’t make it thin. Stuffing should be thick enough to fit inside Eggplant. Add water as required while grinding.
- Now stuff the mixture to each and every eggplant and keep them aside. Keep the remaining stuffing aside to use it for curry.
- Turn on the Instant Pot and set it to Saute. I generally set my saute time to 15 mins.
- Add Oil, once the oil is hot add Mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
- Now add cut onions. Keep stirring to avoid burning.
- Add curry leaves and saute for a minute.
- Then add Tomatoes. Mix all together to saute until tomatoes turn soft. If you leave for a longer time Instant Pot might show the hot warning.
- It is time to add spices. Add Chilly powder, turmeric, homemade spice (Scroll bottom down to know how to make homemade spice powder) & Salt.
- Mix everything together and then add very little water to avoid burning.
- Now add the remaining stuffing mixture and add water to get a not-too-thick not-too-thin consistency.
- Add stuffed Eggplant or Brinjals to the mixture.
- Close the lid, turn off the Instant pot and set it on Pressure cooker (High pressure) for 2 minutes.
- Instant Pot will give a shout out once it is done 🙂
Also Read: Brussels sprouts curry recipe
Pictorial step by step recipe of Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry;
1) Heat Pan on a medium flame. Add peanuts, Green Chilies, Garlic, Sesame seeds & coconut one by one.
2) Fry everything together until they turn golden brown. Turn off the flame and let it cool down.
3) Meanwhile cut onions & tomatoes into small pieces.
4) Cut washed Eggplant/Brinjal into 4 sections as shown in the picture. Don’t cut the stem.
5) Add little salt and water. Grind the mixture to get a thick smooth paste. Add more water if required.
6) Stuff the Brinjal with the ground paste and keep them aside. Keep the remaining mixture for curry.
7) Turn on the Instant Pot, set it on Saute for 15 mins of time.
8) Heat oil, add mustard seeds & Cumin seeds. They don’t sputter in Instant Pot as they do in normal Pan. Hence after 1/2 minute add onion and saute well.
9) Add curry leaves and leave it for a minute.
10) Now add tomatoes, mix everything well until tomatoes turn soft.
11) Add turmeric, Chilli Powder, Homemade spice powder & salt. Mix well. You can either make your own Spice powder (Recipe given below) or use MTR Masala Powder.
12) Water needs to be added to avoid burning.
13) Mix the remaining Peanut & Sesame seeds mixture. If there is no mixture left you can use Besan flour but for better taste adding the same mixture is recommended.
14) Now add stuffed Eggplant or Brinjal as shown in the picture.
14) Turn off the Instant Pot. Set it on Pressure cook (High pressure) for 2 minutes.
15) Once it is done either release the pressure or wait until it gets released naturally. Stuffed Eggplant/Brinjal curry will be ready when you open the lid.
This can be enjoyed with Rice, Rotis & Chapathis.
Homemade spice powder recipe:
- Fry 2 tablespoons of Split Bengal Gram (Chana Daal), 2 tablespoons of a split black gram (Urad daal) and 2-3 dry red chilies until all the grams turn golden brown.
- Turn off the stove and let the mixture cool down completely.
- Grind this mixture to a very smooth powder.
- This spice powder can be used as an ingredient for any curries, sambar, and chutney. It can be stored for a longer time.
This looks so yummy! I love curry, thanks for sharing the recipe!
Yummy dish, want to try it today. Thanks for sharing:)
Sure Aditi! Let me know how it turns out.
This looks delectable. My husband is quite fond of stuffed brinjal. Will try this out.
My husband too 😀 thanks Sonia for reading 🙂
I love pot recipes. They are simple, healthy and easy to make. With a busy life schedule we tend to eat readymade food but such recipes are life savers where we can have more health benefits in less time. Thanks for sharing. #readbypreetispanorama
This Instant pot is similar to cooker with more options. It is quick as well.
Shall I come for dinner?
Haha 😀 Yes Shravs you are most welcome…
Brinjal recipes are always a super hit at my home. I am a big fan of ‘baingan ka bharta’ and stuffed brinjals (called ‘bharleli vangi’ in Marathi) myself.
The pics look scrumptious! ?
You are Marathian 🙂 Yes yes I’m also fan of Bharta.. With Bhakri it tastes delicious 🙂
I am immediately going to share this recipe with my mom. Would be best with roti or paratha.
How sweet! Thank you 🙂
Arre waah… This is a nice recipe.. Will try
Thank you Esha 🙂
This looks delicious and easy to make!!
yup, it is!
You did an amazing job of breaking down the steps in this recipe. I must admit I was a bit overwhelmed with it but the pictures and steps look easy enough to follow. I love instapot. Makes cooking a breeze!
I’m happy you liked it 🙂
Ooo, this looks spicy!
Yes it is! But you can add spice according to your taste!
Yum it looks so delicious and thank you so much for pointing to the benefits of this recipe ? I will definitely try it ??
Sure, let me know how it turns out!
I have never had eggplant, but this looks like a really good recipe to change that! It does look pretty complex, but your pictures and instructions make it seem manageable!
You should try Indian eggplant recipes then!
This looks fabulous! I absolutely love eggplant ?
Then you will like this curry definitely.
I love that you’ve made a vegan recipe. We love to cook with eggplant and we find fibre-rich foods to be fantastic. Really love the idea of this recipe! ?
Thank you 🙂
This is interesting. I love eggplants, especially when grilled or made into an omelet. I have never tried it as curry.
Try once you may like it 🙂 You can eat with rice.
I am not a big fan of eggplant but I’d be willing to give this a try.
Sure!
Eggplant curry is one of my very favs but I don’t know how to make it myself. i miss my moms so mcuh! thanks for sharing. gonna try it out 🙂
Sure, let me know how it turns out!
I love the step by step instructions with all the pictures. I am a novice cook and learn better visually when it comes to recipes! I love eggplant and will definitely try this recipe
Thank you!
This one s really good and looks delicious.
It was 🙂
I have never had stuffed eggplant before! I’m going to have to try this for sure
Great!
I love eggplant (I don’t understand my friends who don’t like eggplant!), and I would love to try your recipe 😀
lol.. that’s great!
That is quite the involved and yet very tasty looking dish. I can almost taste it on my rice.
It tastes good 🙂
I have made this recipe before but not in Instant pot. Will try! thanks!!
You are welcome.