2tbspBlack sesame seeds / til / niger seeds / gurellu
Instructions
Wash and dry the brinjals. Cut them in x-shape just half through the brinjals.Do not remove stalk.Keep immersed in water for about 10 mins. Discard water.
Separately dry roast peanuts and sesame seeds.Roast till they are fragrant .Once cool, if you want de skin peanuts.
Transfer roasted peanuts,roasted sesame and dry coconut to a mixer jar. Grind to a coarse powder. Keep aside to use in the end.
Fry the ingredients mentioned under masala in a tsp of oil.
Grind it to a fine powder. Transfer to a wide plate and add salt,turmeric and little jaggery to it.Mix well
Stuff the masala with a spoon or with your fingers as much as possible into the slitted brinjals. Keep the remaining masala powder aside to use later .
In a small cooker,take more oil .When they are hot, splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves.Add onions and saute till they are translucent.
Now add the stuffed brinjal and saute for 3-4 minute.Keep the flame on medium.Add salt,tamarind and remaining stuffing masala if there is any.Arrange the brinjals side by side,add some water and close the cooker lid .Cook it for just 1 whistle.This ensures uniform cooking of brinjal,reduces cooking time and also helps in reducing oil usage.
Once the pressure releases ,open the cooker and let them cook again for 8-10 mins on low flame.Let it boil well.
When the brinjals are cooked, finally add peanut-niger seeds -coconut powder.Mix well. Addition of this powder will thicken the gravy. Add some water ,based on your desired consistency.Give it just a boil.Switch off .
Serve hot stuffed brinjal with Chapathi / Jowar bhakri / Rice bhakri / Steamed Rice.
Notes
If you are lazy to stuff brinjal / running out of time, short cut method is : just chop brinjal into big pieces and proceed with other steps as mentioned above.
If you want you can just stuff rasam powder / sambar powder instead of freshly roasting spices.
While roasting spices if you want you can add 2 cloves,a piece of cinnamon and a cardamom.
If you want you can omit onion.
If you are ok with more oil,you can cook them slowly with more oil, stirring in between.But i would not recommend it as taste wise and health wise i feel my method of cooking is better.
Do not forget to add peanut-sesame-dry coconut powder in the end.This gives nice taste and texture to the gravy.
Do not remove the stalk from the Brinjal, as it helps hold the veggie in shape without the stuffing coming out while cooking.
The same masala as well method can be used to cook stuffed capsicum .
Instead of black sesame seeds you can also use little poppy seeds / nigella seeds (huchellu/gurellu)