Andhra cuisine has a vast array of brinjal recipes. Today’s Vankaya Nuvvula Masala or brinjal curry is a classic Andhra vegetarian recipe that is prepared on special occasions and can be considered for a party vegetarian menu. Quite a few Andhra vantalu (dishes) call for the use of sesame seeds be it a spiced Nuvvula Podi or a calcium rich Indian sweet like Nuvvula Unda (sweet sesame balls) or a curry like brinjals in sesame sauce. Sesame seeds lend a nutty flavor and body to the dish.
I receive quite a few requests for Andhra Vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes. Hopefully I should be able to post more such recipes for the benefit of my readers. Brinjal curry in sesame seeds sauce is a vegan dish that goes well with rice or rotis.
Vankaya Nuvvula Masala Recipe
Prep & Cooking: 50-60 mts
Serves: 4-5
Cuisine: Andhra
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1/4 kg purple brinjals, wash, make + quarters with stalk intact
1 1/2 – 2 tbsps oil
1 large onion, sliced
3-4 green chilies
1 tbsp khus khus/gasagasalu/white poppy seeds, dry roast for 3 mts
2 tbsps nuvvulu/til/white sesame seeds, dry roast
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
few fresh curry leaves
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric pwd
1/4-1/2 tsp red chilli pwd
1 tsp coriander pwd
1/4 tsp cumin pwd
pinch of roasted methi/fenugreek/menthi pwd (optional)
salt to taste
1 Place the brinjal with + quarters and stalks intact in salted water and keep aside for 10 mts.
2 Add 1/2 tbsp of oil in a cooking vessel, add the brinjals and roast them till brown, approx 7-8 mts. Remove and keep aside.
3 In the same vessel, add the green chilies and sliced onions and saute for 4 mts on low to medium flame. Remove and cool.
4 Grind the onions and green chilies to a fine paste. Remove.
5 Grind the lightly roasted khus khus and sesame seeds to a fine paste, adding 2 tbsps water. Remove.
6 Add the remaining oil in the vessel, add cumin seeds and as they splutter add the curry leaves and onion paste. Saute for 3 mts. Add ginger garlic paste and saute for another 3 mts.
7 Add the khus khus paste and cook for 3 mts. Add turmeric pwd, red chili powder, coriander powder, methi powder, cumin powder and salt. Mix. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil.
8 Reduce flame, add the roasted brinjals and allow to simmer for 8-10 mts and the curry thickens. Adjust salt. Turn off heat
9 Serve Vankaya Nuvvulu Masala or brinjal curry with flavored rice or rice or roti.
