Badanekayi Ennegayi/ Stuffed Baby Eggplant Curry/ Ennai Kartirikai /Bharli Vangi

Badanekayi Ennegayi/Stuffed Baby Eggplants is one of the most Tasty and popular vegetable preparation in Karnataka.In Karnataka each household have their own version.In North Karnataka they use Niger seeds(ucchelu) to prepare this curry which is eaten with Jolada Rotti/Sorghum flour rotis.South Karnataka(Bengaluru,Mysore Part)people loves to eat with Akki Rotti/Rice Roti's.For this Preparation you need to choose tender round baby eggplants which is also called as Gundu Badanekayi in Kannada.You can choose green or purple baby eggplants.It is also know as Ennai kartirikai in Tamil nadu and Bharli Vangi in Maharashtra.

Ingredients:

Gundu badanekayi/baby egglants-7-8

To grind:
Coconut(grated)-1/2cup
Peanuts -handful
Sesame seeds-1Tbsp
Ginger-1" piece
Garlic-4-5 cloves
Tomato-1
Onion-1
Jeera-1tsp
Cinnamon -2"stick
Cloves-4-5
Tamarind paste-1tsp
Sarina Pudi/Sambhar Powder-1Tbsp
Salt to taste

For Tempering:
Oil-1Tbsp
Mustard seeds-1tsp
Curry eaves-2sprigs
Dry chillies-2
Onion-1,finely chopped

Method:
1.Wash the eggplants and cut x shape into 4 parts(as shown in the pictures) don't remove the stalks because that will hold the all the 4 parts.
2.Make  sure to check each eggplants so that they are not spoiled or worm infected.

3.Keep the cut eggplants in salted water until you prepare all the masala's,it will prevent egglants to turn brown.
4.In a mixer jar add all the given ingredients above  and grind it into a smooth paste with little water as possible.
5.Stuff the masala into slits of eggplants.keep it aside.
6.Heat a oil in a kadai,add mustard seeds let them pop then add dry red chillies,chopped onions and curry leaves,fry until onions becomes soft.
7.Add stuffed eggplants and fry for 2-3minutes ,cook by closing the lid on a medium flame.
8.When the masala starts sticking to the bottom, add the remaining stuffed masala and 1/2 cup of water.Cook till the eggplants becomes soft by closing the lid on a medium heat.
9.Now it is ready to serve hot with Akki rottis and it also goes well with Chappatis,dosa,Jolada rotti,and idli's.

Note:
1.I like my ennegayi to be semi dry,if you want more gravy you can add water and cook until you get the right consistency.
2.You can also add  green capsicum,it is a great combo with eggplants.
3.This recipe can be prepared with capsicums,skip the stuffing and  the rest of the method.
4.Other Eggplant/Brinjal/Aubergine recipes