Bharli Vangi Recipe | Stuffed Brinjal

For all Brinjal or Eggplant lovers, here is a traditional recipe of Stuffed Brinjal hailing from the Maharashtrian cuisine. Know as Bharli Vangi in Marathi, this dish features stuffed small brinjals in a gravy base of coconut, sesame seeds, peanuts, onions, tomatoes and spices. One of my favorite Brinjal Recipes, Bharli Vangi is also a vegan friendly preparation. This one is regular at my home. And I’m sure, once you try it, it’ll be the same at your home too.

About Bharli Vangi

Bharli Vangi is a classic brinjal recipe from the cuisine of Maharashtra and this one especially, is how my mother prepares it. In Marathi language, the word ‘bharli’ means ‘stuffed’ and ‘vangi’ is ‘brinjal/aubergine/eggplant or baingan.’ Hence, the dish is rightly named so.

Just like this Bharli Vangi made with brinjal, other vegetables like Okra (Bhendi), Bitter Gourd (Karela), Capsicum (Shimla mirch), potato, large green chilies, pointed gourd, bottle gourd etc. are also used to make ‘stuffed’ or ‘bharli/bharwan’ dishes.

Stuffing vegetables and turning them into flavorful dishes is a common thing in Indian cuisine. There are a variety of filling mixtures that vegetables can be stuffed with.

For instance, it can be a spice mixture, grated paneer or cottage cheese or even minced soya mixtures. These mixtures can be cooked and stuffed, or stuffed and then finally cooked in the veggies.

If you love having stuffed brinjal as a dish, then along with this Maharashtrian style Bharli Vangi, you should also try these recipes of Bharwa Baingan from North Indian cuisine, the Gutti Vankaya from the Andhra cuisine and the Ennegayi from the Karnataka cuisine.

There are major differences in all these variations, considering the varied ingredients used and the methods of preparation. These differences make each of the Stuffed Brinjal variant from these regional Indian cuisines, taste unique and distinct.

More My Recipe

This Bharli Vangi is a complex recipe to make. Cooking the brinjal or eggplant does not take much time. It is the preparation and stuffing that takes some time. You can even choose to add the brinjal in the chopped way. Check out the tips section to know how.   

Some of the typical ingredients that makes this Bharli Vangi Maharashtrian are peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut. These are roasted first and then ground with chopped onions, ginger and garlic into a smooth and thick paste.

This paste is what is used as a rustic mixture to stuff the brinjals. Also, if you are making the dish with chopped brinjals, this paste will add body to the gravy.  

The stuffed brinjals are then simmered and cooked in a masala curry base of onions, tomatoes and various ground spices.

For the Bharli Vangi, we need to use baby eggplants or small eggplants. This type is easily available in India. If you still have to make this recipe and do not have baby eggplants, you can then buy medium-sized eggplants, chop them and make this recipe.

Bharli Vangi pairs really well as a side dish with Indian flat breads like phulka, chapati, bhakri, paratha, poli, or even bread and steamed rice.

How to make Bharli Vangi

Preparing Brinjals

1. Rinse 250 grams of small brinjals first. Slit them on 4 sides without breaking them apart. You can keep a portion of the stems, if you prefer.

Slightly pull apart the brinjal wedges and check to see if there are any worms in them. If you see black spots or worms, trash the brinjal.

Ensure to use small or baby brinjals. Usually to make this recipe, the small brinjals having tiny thorns are used.

Locally in Marathi language, they are called “kateri vangi“, where the word ‘kateri‘ means ‘thorny’ or ‘with thorns’.

2. Soak in salted water for 15 minutes. You can also chop them and soak in salted water. Soaking in salted water removes the bitter flavor from brinjals.

Make Stuffing Masala

3. In a frying pan or kadai (wok), dry roast ¼ cup peanuts on medium-low to medium heat.

4. Roast them until you see some blisters on them and they become crunchy.

5. When they get browned, add 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds.

6. Next, add ½ cup desiccated coconut or unsweetened shredded coconut. Mix and begin to roast the coconut stirring non-stop.

7. When coconut turns light golden, add 5 to 6 small to medium chopped garlic cloves and 1 inch peeled and chopped ginger.

8. Roast stirring non-stop until the coconut is browned and turns fragrant. You can also choose to roast each ingredient separately.

Set aside this mixture to cool at room temperature.

9. When the coconut, peanuts and sesame seeds cool down, add them in a high-speed blender or grinder with ¼ cup roughly chopped onions.

9. Grind to a smooth and fine paste with 4 to 5 tablespoons water. Make a thick paste. Do not add too much water while grinding. 

If the paste gets a loose consistency, it will be difficult filling it in the brinjals.

Stuff Brinjals and Sauté

10. Drain all the water from the brinjals. Place the brinjals on a plate or chopping board. Pat them dry with clean kitchen towel, if you prefer.

With a spoon, stuff the prepared masala paste inside each brinjal. Keep aside.

11. In pan, heat 3 to 4 tablespoons peanut oil. Add ¼ cup chopped onions.

Instead of peanut oil, use sunflower oil or any neutral tasting oil.

12. Sauté onions on low to medium-low heat till they turn light golden.

13. Next, add ½ cup chopped tomatoes.

14. Mix and sauté till the tomatoes soften and turn mushy.

15. Add the following spice powders one by one:

• 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
• ½ teaspoon coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• 2 teaspoons Goda Masala or swap with ½ teaspoon Garam Masala

16. Stir to combine and mix. Sauté on low heat for some seconds till you get a nice aroma. 

17. Add remaining leftover coconut and peanut paste.

18. Mix and sauté for a minute.

Making Bharli Vangi

19. Finally place the masala stuffed brinjals in the pan in one single layer.

20. Gently mix the stuffed brinjals with the rest of the masala.

21. Add 1 cup water or as required. Mix the entire curry gently. For a more gravy, you can add more water. 1 cup water gives a slightly thick gravy. 

22. Add salt to taste.

23. Cover and let the brinjals cook for 20 to 22 minutes on low to medium-low heat. Keep checking in between and if the stuffed brinjals looks a bit dry, then add some more water.

24. Switch off the heat, when the brinjals are fork tender. You will also see some oil floating on the top layer of the gravy. This means that the Bharli Vangi gravy or curry is cooked through.

25. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves.

26. Serve Bharli Vangi hot or warm with steamed rice, chapati, bhakri, poli or paratha.

While serving, you can drizzle some lemon juice, if you want. You can also garnish with a few coriander leaves while serving.

Expert Tips

1. Eggplant: Use small or baby brinjals to make this recipe. These variety of brinjals soften and become mushy when cooked. Do not use the large variety of eggplant as they do not become mushy and remain spongy after cooking.
2. Sourness: Tamarind can be used instead of tomatoes. If using tamarind, then add a bit of jaggery or sugar to balance the sour taste. Since tomatoes are added, no need to add jaggery.
3. Coconut: You can even use fresh or frozen coconut. But the taste with either will be different.
4. Spice alternative: In place of goda masala powder, you can also add garam masala powder in this dish.
5. Make without stuffing brinjals: If you do not want to stuff brinjals, then chop them and soak them in salted water for 15 minutes. In this case, first sauté the onions and tomatoes. Add the ground masala paste, spice powders and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes till you see oil separating from the sides. Then, add chopped brinjals followed by water and salt. Cover and cook until brinjals are softened.

This Bharli Vangi recipe from the archives first published in July 2011 has been republished and updated on December 2022.