Bharli vangi or Bharva Baingan – stuffed baby eggplants are made in some form across the various regions of India. Recipes differ from place to place.
This is a classic Marathi or Maharashtrian recipe. As traditional as this is, every family has a twist on it, and will taste different from place to place. Some areas use more oil and heat, others use a lot more sugar. Any which way, this is a delicacy that ranks high among traditional food.
There are a few variations even within our family depending on the person making it, and I have come up with my own favorite over the years. The star here is the ‘kala’ or black masala that is generally eaten in parts of central India, and which is very much different from the goda masala otherwise common in Marathi households.
The baby eggplants/brinjals/vangi themselves are the other main ingredient of course. I like the ones which are deep purple on the outside with very few seeds inside. The eggplants grown along the banks of the river Krishna are also very popular for this dish ( found in places like Sangli, Karad and Kolhapur).
The spice mix forms the secret ingredient here and is actually made up of many different things. A variation in the quantity and variety of things used changes the taste of this dish. I use a combination of nuts/seeds, spices and coconut.
The detailed recipe for bharli vangi or bharva baingan is as follows –
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Bharli Vangi or bharva baingan is generally served with hot rotis or bhakri, which is a thick roti made from jowar or bajra.
The cuisine of Maharashtra is incomplete without ‘Bharli vangi’.
:)) Love the oil!! Any specific place I can find this kala masala?
Hi Anonymous,
Generally this masala is made at home in most maharastrian households. Typically contains coriander seeds(Dhane), Sesame seeds(white til), Cinnamon Leaves(Tamalpatra), dried lichen(Dagadful) and Cumin Seeds(Jeera). all the spices are slow roasted and ground together after cooling. Note that the Masala does not contain any ingredient thats spicy. Hence the name Goda Masala…
You can also buy this masala. Ask your Indian grocer to get Bedekar’s Goda Masala
Enjoy !!! 🙂
That is quite accurate..thanks Rashmi!