Vegetables Stuffed With Spices Ravaiya Bharela Recipes

EGGPLANT RAVAIYA

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except for the olive oil and eggplants in a food processor, and pulse until the peanuts are ground. Add oil and pulse to combine; the mixture will resemble damp sand. Set aside.
• Cut a crosshatch in the bottom of the eggplant about three-quarters of the way up the fruit, leaving the stem intact. (In other words, you're making a deep plus-sign shape in the bulbous part of the fruit, so you can stuff it with the peanut filling.) Repeat with the remaining eggplants.
• Stuff each eggplant with a little of the peanut mixture, just enough to fill the hole. You should have some peanut mixture left over.
• Place the stuffed eggplants on their sides in a single layer on the bottom of a large pot or saucepan with a lid. The eggplants can overlap a little, but ideally they will all fit on the bottom of the pot. Dollop the leftover peanut mixture on top of and around the eggplants, and add 1 cup of water. Turn heat to medium and cover the pot. Let the eggplant cook at a simmer, adjusting the heat as necessary, for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the eggplants are just tender when you poke them at the stem end with the tip of a knife.
• Taste the sauce for salt, and serve hot with basmati rice or Indian flatbreads.

VEGETABLES STUFFED WITH SPICES (RAVAIYA BHARELA)

Steps:

• Put peanuts, ginger, garlic and chilies into container of an electric blender. Blend as finely as possible. Spoon and scrape mixture into a mixing bowl.
• Add turmeric, red pepper, cumin, coriander, salt, sugar, garam masala and 2 tablespoons of oil. Blend well with fingers.
• Cut potatoes lengthwise, slightly more than halfway down. Give potatoes slightly more than a quarter turn and make a similar cut. The cut portion can be opened slightly to provide space for stuffing. Fill the cut sections of each potato with equal portions stuffing.
• Peel onions. Cut each, slicing down with a knife almost but not quite through to the bottom. Give each onion a quarter turn and slice in similar fashion. Open up onions and stuff with spice mixture.
• Trim off ends of eggplants. Cut each eggplant crosswise in half. Partly slice open each piece so that it can be opened up but remains hinged at the bottom. Fill halves with equal portions of spice mixture.
• Put remaining cup of oil in bottom of a casserole and arrange vegetables, stuffed side up in layers, one atop the other.
• Cover casserole closely with a shallow pan that fits more or less compactly. Pour an inch or so of water in pan. Heat vegetables until they start to cook in the oil. Let cook over low heat until potatoes are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir gently, if at all, as vegetables cook. Sprinkle with coriander before serving.

INDIAN SPICE STUFFED EGGPLANTS & POTATOES

Steps:

• Cut the top and bottom off of each baby eggplant so that they are each shaped like a cylinder.
• Using a knife, slit each eggplant cross-wise on the top of one side leaving some room at the end. Be careful to NOT slit them all the way through to the bottom of the eggplant (should be joined at the base). See images in the post.
• Using your fingers, stuff the Easy Indian Spice Blend in each of the cross-wise slits made in the eggplants and set aside.
• In a large wide non-stick pan, heat 1 teasp cooking oil on medium heat. Add the diced white onions and bell peppers and saute on medium-high heat for a few minutes until the onions start to become translucent. Set aside in bowl.
• Quickly wipe down the large non-stick pan with a wet paper towel to clean and cool it down.
• Heat the non-stick large pan again on medium heat and add 1 teasp cooking oil. Add the black mustard seeds and minced garlic and fry for ~30 seconds until the garlic starts to sizzle. Add the asafoetida (if using) and fry for a few additional seconds.
• Turn the heat to medium-low. Place each stuffed baby eggplant slit side up in the pan (or cut eggplant). Sprinkle ~2 tbsp water on top and cover. Cook on medium-low heat until the stuffed eggplants are cooked through (15-20 minutes). Stir in between a few times and add small amounts of additional water (~1 tbsp at a time) if needed to evenly cook the eggplant.
• While the eggplant is cooking, cook the potato (see notes below) so that it's tender, yet still firm. Peel, dice into large pieces, and set aside. See notes below on how to cook.
• Once the eggplant is cooked (knife should go through gently), remove the cover, add in the cooked diced potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Gently mix and fold everything together.
• Turn the heat to medium. Sprinkle about 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp of the Easy Indian Spice Blend on top, followed by some water as needed to keep the dish from becoming dry (about 1/3-1/2 cup water slowly sprinkled in while cooking). Mix to combine and allow the dish to cook uncovered. If you are using different types of eggplant and did not stuff them with the spice mix, then sprinkle additional spice mix to taste on top.
• Add 2-3 teasp salt (as needed to taste), and some chili powder (if using for spice).
• Cook for an additional ~10 minutes, turn off the heat, and generously garnish with finely chopped cilantro.
• To serve, (1) enjoy with cooked rice, fresh roti/tortilla, or (2) sandwich the Indian Spice Stuffed Eggplants & Potatoes in between two slices of bread (I typically use sourdough or whole wheat) and press in a sandwich maker until sealed, grilled, and crispy on both sides.
• I usually choose to make option (2) above the following day with any leftovers and serve it with some ketchup (for the kids) or hot sauce.