June 19, 2007

VANGI BHAAT

Vangi Bhaat is my offering for Nupur from 'One Hot Stove' blog's "A to Z Indian Vegetalbles" event. This week's letter is "V", thanks Nupur!:))

I am also sending this as one of my entries to Sangeeta from "Ghar Ka Khana" for JFI "Eggplants". Thanks Sangeeta!:))

Vangi Bhaat:
'Vangi' is Eggplant and 'Bhaat' means spiced rice.This time I made my favorite rice dish spiced with Eggplants sauteed in oil and mixed with an very tasty blend of spice powders.I already have my mom's Vangi Bhaat at Foodie's Hope.This is another version of Vangi Bhaat I make.If you have the dry masala powder handy, Vangi Bhaat makes a quick brunch when don't want to cook too many dishes.I serve this with crisps or Sev and some plain yogurt too,a perfect dish for "V"! Enjoy.

Beautiful long purple Eggplants:

I feel that these are the best kind of Eggplants to make Vangi Bhaat.But as long as the Eggplants are firm and fresh,I guess you can use other varieties as well.Short,round dark purple Eggplants will work fine too.


Here is a simple,quick and tasty Vangi Bhaat:

Vangi Bhaat itself is not very photogenic dish although it tastes fabulous! To make it a little attractive and give a contrast of colors,I added a ring of Madras style Sev around it! Now it's looks great,doesn't it? Imagine it without the Sev around it! ;D


Vangi Bhaat powder:


Roast 2 tbsp dry coconut, 1 tbsp Coriander seeds, 2 tsp Urad dal,1 tbsp Chana dal,1 tsp Sesame seeds,2-3 red chillies,few pepper corns,1" cinnamon,2 cloves,1/2 tsp Turmeric.Cool and powder.Store it in a air tight jar and use as much as you need to mix in the Vangi Bhaat.



How to make it:



You need: 3-4 purple Eggplants,chopped into long rectangle pieces.3-4 tbsp oil,1/2 tsp Mustard seeds, 2 tsp each of Urad and Chana dal,1-2 red chillies,salt and 2-3 tbsp Tamarind juice.2 Cups cooked and cooled any long grain or Sona Massori rice.
1. Heat oil,add mustard seeds,Urad dal,Chana dal,red chillies,When reddish,add Eggplant pieces and fry until half way fried.
2. Add salt and tamarind juice,2 tbsp Vangi Bhaat pd and simmer on low heat until oil shows on top and Eggplants are soft and shiny.DO NOT add water.
3. Add to cooked and cooled rice and mix well.Adjust the salt.Serve after keeping it for 2-4 hrs. with yogurt and crisps.

Note: If you just want to make the sauce to use it later,make the sauce( must add salt the Eggplant sauce to make it tastier)and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to mix with rice.Heat in the Microwave for 1-2 mins before you mix with cooled rice.After mixing,do not keep in the fridge.Vangi Bhaat always tastes best when served at room temp.

Enjoy the Vangi Bhaat and have a great week!Can you believe,I don't have the time to post any other dish at Aroma this week except this??!!Shocking but true!!:D

46 comments:

USHA said...

Hi Ashaji,

Wow!!!Look at that beautiful Purple colour....Actually as my hubby doesn't like brinjal, i don't prepare it from my first day...

After coming here slowing started cooking it once in a while...he also started having it little quantity...now i can try this too...

Lata said...

Hey Asha,

Vangibath never works for me and I failed many times. I will try this and will let you know.

FH said...

Usha,I don't know why most men don't like Eggplants?!!Puzzling!:D
I love them in any dish.Try it.You make Brinjal dishes for yourself girl if you like it.Enjoy:))

Laavanya said...

My husband is not a fan of eggplants either but Vaangi Baath he loves. My version is similar to what you have here Asha. I must check out your mother's version and try it some day.

Sia said...

he he he...so u decorate it with sev to make it more photogenic?;) but the name itself is enough for me to go hungry all over again:)
looks absolutely delicious. and i like light green long brinjal to make vangi baath. never seen those purple gems here.

TNL said...

That is one of my favorites.....too bad, I STILL don't eat rice....I make it for my kiddos and K though.

:)

Arts said...

Nice recipe.. Am not a huge fan of bringles but have another version of vangi bhaat (maharashtrian style) that I might share this week...
I was expecting this rice at foodies hope tomorrow! :)
And yes.. Evn i get confused when capturing pics of rice dishes.. all look just the smae :D Can u share some tips?

Jyothi said...

Hi Asha, Vangi Bhaat looks great and delicious. I heard so much about vangi bhaat. Even I bought the ready made masala to prepare. But I am searching for the process of preparation. Now I got it here. Very soon I will try this. Thanks for sharing.

Suganya said...

WoW this is a wonderful recipe..... As lata said I have also failed many times doing this... So mostly i used get ready-made one form the indian store..

FH said...

Hi Lata,good to see you here.Try my mom's Vani Bhaat than this,you will love it.Hope you are feeling better now.Did you see Bhakarwadis at FH? Hope you try those yummies!:)

Lavanya,at least he likes Vangi Bhaat!:))
Try the other one.Most recipes are similar in all the Vangi Bhaats anyway.

Aruna said...

Asha, Vangi bhaat is mouthwatering, boy seems like ages since I have had this :)
My mom prepares the most delicious Vangibhaat with those small badanekai which we only get in Mysore-Blore(sorry forgot the name)

Great Post Asha!!!

FH said...

Sia,kharashev makes it stand out!!;D
Green B'lore Badnekai is the best for this,but I haven't seen those for in more than 10yrs!! Purple ones are easy to find here.I love Vangi Bhaat with lot of spicy Eggplant pieces!Telling you that making me hungry too!:))

Trupti,you can make it and have one bite for yourself!!:D
I know,my kids don't like Eggplants but Arvind and I love it.
Btw,I saw St.John's pics. OMG!!! It's looks like heaven to me.Water and nature! You are so very lucky to live there!:)

FH said...

Aarti,can't wait to see Marathi version of Vangi Bhath!:)
I have Marathi Vangi recipe tomorrow,made it 2 weeks ago but saved it for tomorrow!It was very tasty with Parathas.
Rice dishes are difficult to photograph.You just add something colorful in contrast or place it on beautiful plate,and hope for the best!:D

Jyoti,MTR brand Vangi Bhaat is great tasting.Sometimes I use that too for a quick lunch,mostly I make it this way.Try it ,I am sure you will love it:))

Chickoo said...

Ashakka,
Ninne rathri nim beetroot curry/palya madidde, abba it was such a hit you know?? My hubby was going ga-ga about it. He said it tasted exactly like the palya that is served in restaurants in Bangalore. Now that is a great praise :) that too coming from someone who is a man of few words!

Richa said...

hey, vangi bhaat sure does look tempting :) so nice of you to give the powder recipe as well, i too like the long brinjals, less seeds ;) i'm surprised to see ur v entry so early in the week, u must be busy later!

Manasi said...

I'll have the bhaat please, M, can eat the vangi!!! Looks yummy!!!!

FH said...

Sukanya,ready made works fine too but it's better if you make the pd at home.Now you have two recipes.Try it:)

Aruna,you are right.Green B'lore Badnekai makes the best Vangi Bhaat.Here you just have to use whatever you get.Get mom's recipe and post it:))

FH said...

Chickoo,your hubby sounds like mine!!:D Silent ones are hard to live with,huh?:))
Glad he liked it.I didn't know you get Beetroot palya in the restaurant,may be in one of those Mess types.Sounds great to me.
Save the recipes if you like something in a notebook,you never know about these blogs and when they disappear one day!:))

Richa,yeah! Getting ready for vacation in few days.Just thought I post this for Nupur since I already have a few recipes in the draft!:))
Enjoy the recipe and I always give homemade masala pd for any dish too instead of "add 2 tbsp MTR ready made pd"! :D

FH said...

Manasi,skip the Vangi and add Aloo.You get a yummy Aloo Bhaat!:D
Masala pd is good enough to veg curries too.Try it:)

Unknown said...

Hi Asha,
Yum yum....love vangi bath and khara boondi...

Li'l Lite said...

Eggplant is the king of vegetables with a crown too ;) dont ya agree?
I am drooling :D

FH said...

Madhu,last time we went to Indian grocery store,I got the B'lore/Madras style Khara sev.It's so tasty.Usually I get Haldiram's Bhujia.I prefer Madras style Boondi!:))
Post your mom's Vangi bhath if you have it Madhu, with Vangi bhaat pd!

Hi dr,yes madam!! Who can beat Eggplant king or Queen?!:D
Some people hate it though.It's an acquired taste I guess.You like it or hate it!:)) Enjoy.

Swapna said...

I love vangi bhaat..Great idea to serve it with sev..

FH said...

Hi Swapna.Crunchy Sev with soft Brinjals!!!That sounds great huh?:))

Roopa said...

Asha wow yummy my favorite its been quite a while since i made, i too use these purple ones once a while i get the green badane use it for avalakki and uppitu also.yella finagi idde will be back soon.hugs and wishes:)

Suganya said...

Murmure with mixed rice. How do you know my fav combo? I don't mind having that plate here :D

Kajal said...

WOW...nice presentation with beautiful photo....Looks yummy with its perfect color...:)

Coffee said...

WOHOOO!!!!!! So you also three in one this week ;) Very clever indeed Asha (Not that I didn't know before this ;) )

I run miles away from eggplant but thanks to sangeeta!!! With her choice of ingredient the flood that I see with eggplants everywhere, I am looking forward to indulge my taste buds with this king of veg!!! :)

Raaga said...

Hmmm :-) This is the powder that Amma makes for me. I grind my masala fresh when I run out of the powder. :)

FH said...

Hi Roopa,I like Purple ones too in Vani Bhaat!:)
Glad to hear you are doing fine.Everybody seems to be sick these days.

Suganya,soft rice and Brinjals with cruchy sev is perfect,isn't it?:D

Thank you Kajal.Took a lot of pics to get one or two good photos!!:))

FH said...

Coffee,it's true.Bcos I posted at FH,I got some time off at Aroma!:D
It's all good, bcos I am busy packing this week:)
You don't like Eggplants too!Well...you don't like FH this week then!!:D

Hi Raaga,I use MTR pd if I am in a hurry but fresh masala always tastes better:)

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

I LOVE vaangibhaat too!!!! yours looks great :)

FH said...

Thanks Ramya.I make it whenever I get some good fresh Brinjal which is not always:))
More Eggplants at FH,check it out!

Anonymous said...

Hi again Asha, what a crazy day I am running so late. Will try this one for sure -- it's one of the very first things I made way back when I got hooked on Indian food -- that time I made Vineela's recipe and I still have some of her masala in the freezer. I also have your rajma masala there! I have got to get eggplant-shopping and quick! Thanks for another sure winner and have a great Thursday :)

FH said...

Thanks for taking time to comment today Linda.I know,in the middle of the week everything becomes so hectic!I am running around keeping up with all the kids appointments and packing for vacation too.
My mom's Vangi Bhaat is better than this recipe.Try that first!Have a great day Linda.:))

Sig said...

:) Asha, more eggplants... I just came over from FH, and what do I see in Aroma... You didnt make it all in the same week right? :D

FH said...

Gotcha!!!! Hahaha!! i can imagine the shock.No, it's purely coincidence! I made this long time ago.Only Thai Eggplant curry is new at FH!;D
I wouldn't dare say "enjoy" to you now Sig!!:)))

Mona said...

The eggplants are indeed beautiful!

Is vangi bhatt the same as bisi beli hullu anna?
{ I hope I got that right!] :D

FH said...

Hi Mona.I am on vacation!!:))
No,Bisi bele huli anna/Bhaat is different from this.I have it at FH,at recipe Index Rice dishes.
How are ya doing?I will be back home this week.I will post from here (got my Laptop)on Wednesday with a photo to where I am?!;D
See you next week.

Sharmi said...

yummy looking vangi bhaat Asha, I have never tried using these long eggplants. your version looks great.

Prema Sundar said...

I have made it a few times but didn't turn out that very good. Let me try ur vaangi bhath..

FH said...

Thanks Sharmi,hope you try:)

Prema,try my mom's recipe first,it's really great.Click the link there.Give it a try:)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Eggplants will be making their debut at our farmers' markets soon; we'll have many varieties, so I'll be looking for several new recipe ideas. Thanks for a delicious one!

FH said...

You are welcome Susan:)
You should also check my "It's raining Eggplants!" post at FH,you will even more choices!!:D
Thanks,enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,

I love your blog & have successfully tried many recipes!! Thanks a lot for sharing.

FH said...

You are welcome Suma, glad you tried and liked them. Enjoy!:))