Vangibath (Rice with Eggplant in an aromatic powder)

Tired of making curry, accompaniments and preparing a full meal each day. Take a break and here goes a simple and easy lunch perfect and yummy to fill your hungry tummy.

Yet another fantastic  cuisine of Karnataka which has some unique combination of rice and eggplant.

You can make this spice powder and use it whenever you need them its so handy for lunch box on a lazy day. Just need some crunchy like chips to accompany or some of them like to eat with simple raita.

Ingredients:

1 cup rice

6 small brinjals (Use the long green brinjal however you can make with any brinjal that you have)

Vangibath powder - 2 tsp

Curry leaves – 2 sprigs

Lemon  juice – 1 tsp

Salt

Oil – 3 tbsp

Vangi bath masala powder

Chana dal- 3 tsp

urad dal- 3 tsp

Fenugreek  seeds-  4 seeds

Dry coconut- 3 tsps

Red chillies- 5 to 6 or to your level of spice

Cumin - 1 tsp

Coriander seeds- 1 tsp

Cloves- 2

Cardamom- 1

Cinammon stick- a small piece                                                                                                                      Oil – 1 tsp

Fry all the above ingredients in 1 tsp oil. Grind to a smooth paste and use 2 tsps of this mixtue for the vangi bath.

Method:

Cook the rice with 2 cups of water.

Cut the brinjals ½  inch lenght wise.

Take a large non-stick skillet put 3 tbsps of oil, few mustard seeds, few curry leaves and throw in the  brinjal with some salt. Cook till the brinjal becomes tender. Now add ½  tsp salt, 1 tsp vangi bath powder and just cook for a minute and then turn of the stove.

After 10 minutes  remove the brinjal mixture from the skillet and place in a plate. Now in the same skillet put the rice with 3 tsps of oil, 1 tsp of vangi bath powder, ¼ tsp of salt and lemon juice. Gently mix all the ingredients, with out breaking the rice.

Once the spices are well incorporated in the rice, add the brinjal mixture to the rice and mix it well. Check for the final salt and sour of lime is perfect. If need you can adjust at this time here.

Enjoy this with a pack of nice potato chips.

Latha

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