Vangi Bhaat - How to make vangi bhat

Vangi Bhat is a rice item made with brinjals is a very popular recipe of Karnataka state.  Vangi bhat is prepared in a similar way like a masala bhat.  Vangi Bhat masala powder  is added in this rice recipe and this spice blend gives the Vangi Bhat its unique flavour, taste and smell.  

It is very easy to prepare Vangi bhat recipe.  If you have goda masala readily available, it will not take much time to prepare vangi bhat.   The Vangi Bhat is a very popular recipe of Karnataka state.  The word VAngi means brinjal.  The cooked rice is mixed with home made spice powder and brinjals cooked in tamarind sauce to give birth to this excellent spicy Vangi Bhat.   In this article, you will see how we can make Vangi bhat of karnataka style. 

Ingredients required for Vangi bhat : 

• Cooked Rice(any rice brand or basmati rice) - 2 cups
• Brinjals /  Eggplants - 4-5 cut into 4 pieces
• Roasted Peanuts - 2 tbsp for garnish
• Thick tamarind extract - 1 tbsp
• Salt for taste

For Seasoning:

• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustaard Seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad Dhal - 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves few spring

For Vaangi Bath Masala Podi:

• Oil - 1tsp
• Black gram dal - 1 tbsp
• Channa Dal - 2 tbsp
• Coriander Seeds - 2 tsp
• Red Chilli - 4-5 nos.
• Sesame Seeds - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon Stick - 2" piece
• Cloves - 3

Method of preparation:

1. Heat a fry pan with 1/2  tsp oil, throw in cinnamon stick and cloves. Now add coriander seeds, curry leaves and  asefotida. Fry until aromatic for few minutes. Transfer to cool.
2. Fry channa dal, urad dal until golden color in the same pan.  Throw in the red chillies and fry for further one minute.  Add sesame seeds finally before turning  off the fire.
3. Cool all the roasted ingredients and grind them.  Store this powder in a air tight container and use it as needed.
4. Heat oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Throw in the cumin seeds,  split urad dal, curry leaves, one behind other. 
5. Add brinjals and turmeric powder a pinch. Sprinkle the ground powder . Pour in the 1/3 cup of water and tamarind extract. Cook covered for few minutes until brinjals are well cooked( but not mashed).
6. Add cooked rice to the prepared brinjal seasoning and saute well. Add the required salt.
7. Garnish with  roasted peanuts.
8. Dish out and serve with any raita and curry of your choice.

Note:

You can prepare this rice using this procedure : 

1. Saute the brinjals in seasoned oil to enhance its taste(water is not required) and add vaangi powder and rice, salt.
2. Replace lemon juice(1/2 of lemon) for tamarind at the end.
3. Roasted cashew nuts  or peanuts can be added as per taste.