Vaigana Bhartha/Bajji

Description:

Vaigana Bhartha/Bajji is nothing but konkani version of Baingan ka Bhartha. It is very simple to prepare. I remember my grand mother putting the Brinjals(Egg plant) onto the coal fire and then taking it out, mashing it , adding some salt, green chillies , tamarind water and a dash of chopped onions. That was life back then.In this article I have two dishes  you can make using these coal cooked Eggplants(Brinjals).

Ingredients to make Vaigana Bhartha:

3 medium sized Brinjals,

1 cup scraped coconut,

1 teaspoon sesame seeds,

2 pinches of Hing (Asafeotida),

an inch of tamarind,

2 Byadgi red chillies,

1 teaspoon cooking oil,

Salt to taste.

Method to prepare Vaingana Bhartha:

• Apply some oil to the whole brinjal and keep it on flame.Keep turning the Brinjal until all the sides are burnt from outside but cooked from inside.Repeat the process for other Brinjals.Once done keep them aside to cool.
• Meanwhile heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan, add sesame seeds, once they splutter add red chillies . Now add scraped cococut and fry for 2 minutes.
• Grind the above mixture along with some tamarind,Hing and Salt to taste.Make fine paste.
• Now peel the dark outer skin of Brinjals and keep them aside .
• Now mash the Brinjal a little(Dont completely mash it !).
• Add the ground paste to the mashed brinjals. Mix well.
• garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and chopped onions.

Serve with Rice and any Randayi.

Ingredients to make Vaigana Bajji:

3 medium sized Brinjals,

1 teaspoon scraped coconut(optional)

2 pinches of Hing (Asafeotida),

an inch of tamarind,

2 Green chillies,

1 teaspoon cooking oil,

Salt to taste.

Method to prepare Vaingana Bajji:

• Apply some oil to the whole brinjal and keep it on flame.Keep turning the Brinjal until all the sides are burnt from outside but cooked from inside.Repeat the process for other Brinjals.Once done keep them aside to cool.
• Make mixture of tamarind,Hing,green chilly paste,a teaspoon of oil and Salt to taste.Add some water so that tamarind dissolves.
• Now peel the dark outer skin of Brinjals and keep them aside .
• Now mash the Brinjal completely.Add the tamrind mixture prepared in step 2 . Mix well.
• Garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and chopped onions.

Serve with Rice and any Randayi