Ennegaayi (Stuffed Brinjal)

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  25 mins	Cook Time:  20 mins

Called by many names - ennegaayi (ennegayi), tumbugaayi (tumbugayi), nichinakaayi (ninchinakayi), gutti vankaayi - this is a traditional favorite in many households.  The stuffing and the vegetable is relished by everyone due to its exclusive combination.  They go very well with any kind of soft roti/chapati (wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, etc).  It can be a great accompaniment with hot rice and ghee as well!

Ingredients:

• Small round brinjals - 1 lb
• Peanuts - 0.5 cup
• Sesame seeds - 0.25 cup
• Dry coconut pieces - 0.5 cup
• Garlic - 4-5 cloves
• Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
• Red chilies - 8-10
• Turmeric - 0.5 tsp
• Tamarind paste - 1tsp (or) 1 lemon sized tamarind fruit
• Jaggery (or) brown sugar - 1 lemon sized lump
• Salt
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 2 stalks

Method:

• Wash and slit the brinjal from the bottom, almost to the top without separating the pieces from the stalk (see picture)
• Roast peanuts until they turn aromatic
• Roast sesame seeds till they pop
• Roast coriander seeds and red chilies separately
• Let them cool for 5 minutes
• To a blender jar, add dry coconut pieces, garlic cloves, coriander seeds, red chilies, turmeric, salt and the roasted peanuts and sesame seeds
• Grind them into a coarse powder (without adding any water)
• Fill this powder into each crevice of the brinjals (see picture)
• In a cooker vessel, heat 1 tbsp of oil, splutter mustard seed and add curry leaves ('Saute' mode in IP)
• Gently place all the filled brinjals into the pot
• Sprinkle the remaining peanuts, etc. powder
• Add the jaggery and tamarind paste
• Add 2 cups of hot water and close the cooker
• Pressure cook and let pressure release naturally ('Pressure Cook' 3 mins. in IP)
• Serve hot with chapati, roti, jowar roti or rice, along with a dollop of butter! 

Tips and Tricks:

• Cutting the brinjals correctly gives a good end result
• After grinding the coarse powder, two cups of hot water can be pulsed in the grinder jar and poured into the cooker.  All the flavorful powder will get incorporated and expedite the cleaning of the oily jar 
• Not necessary to toss the vegetable in the seasoning as it will break them or the stuffing will fall out

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: