"Vangyache Kaap" / Spicy Eggplant fritters

So, I am the only fan of eggplant at home. 'M' and the kids don't care for it much and so we rarely make anything eggplanty at home. When you don't get to eat something for days or months together...it automatically gains 'special' place and you crave it as if its the 'best' thing in the world ;p
So is the place of eggplant for me these days :)
I took the opportunity to cook this..a very maharashtrian appetizer made with eggplant when 'M' was away on business trip and was enjoying his moms handmade 'Puran Poli' :)

Ingredients:
1 large purple eggplant or 4 medium eggplants sliced thinly and immersed in water
1/2 cup 'Thalipeeth bhajani' ( maharashtrian multigrain flour)
1 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt
oil to fry

Method:
1) Mix the bhajani flour with salt,turmeric and red chili powder. Place in a flat plate.
2) Coat the wet slices of eggplant with the dry bhajani powder.
3) Shallow fry in nonstick pan till eggplant is cooked and turns brownish.
4) Serve hot!

  

Gujrati 'Undhiyu'

 The last time we were in Chicago, we had been to the BAPS Swaminarayan temple.The temple is so beautiful and peaceful..I love it there!Another attraction..is their cafeteria..Shayona. It has some super delicious Gujrati Food!
I had picked up 'Methi Muthiya' pack and wanted to try the famous Gujrati speciality "Undhiyu". Since it needs quite a few 'special' vegetables I had to wait a couple week to gather those...but finally...This Delicious meal came to our plates!!
Love how the sweetness from the root vegetables combine with the savory masala ! Truly mouthwatering!I served it along with 'Multigrain wraps'....which are thicker and kind of resemble Roti/ Bhakri.

Ingredients:

Vegetables: Papdi, eggplant, sweet potato, potato is a must! Raw banana can be added too.
I used: 1/2 cup each Papdi, Purple yam (Indian sweet potato), Eggplant(whole baby eggplants can be used), Potatoes, Green harbara, carrots cut up in bite size chunks.
10-12 Methu Muthiya ( I used store bought.But can be made at home-http://www.tarladalal.com/Oondhiya-%28-Gujarati-Recipe%29-602r )
1/2 Cup shredded coconut fresh
1/2 cup shredded coconut dry
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
1tbsp Sesame seeds ground into coarse powder
2tsp Lemon juice
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp Cumin-Coriander powder
1tsp Jaggery
1/2tsp Red chili powder
1/2tsp Turmeric
1/2tsp Cumin
2-3 green chilies
Salt
oil
 Cilantro for garnish

 Method:
1) Mix together the coconut, sesame powder, chopped cilantro, cumin-coriander powder,Ginger paste lemon juice, red chili powder, turmeric,salt. Rub/ stuff this masala in the vegetables.
2)Heat up oil in pan. Add the cumin seeds, green chilies. Add the vegetables with the coconut-cilantro masala.
3) Add salt, methi muthiyas, jaggery and little water.Let the vegetables cook till tender.
4) Serve hot along with Roti/ Bhakri

" The Sizzle from a Guest Kitchen"- (Guest- Ananya Joshi) Eggplant Pesto Burger)

Guest- Ananya Joshi
Recipe= Eggplant Pesto Burger

Ananya and I were neighbors since we moved to Columbus. Like they say "Like minds think alike"...many a times....we end up cooking similar meals. Co-incidently..we have cooked Sandwiches (of the same type....that too ...three colored!!!!), Misal Pav, Idlies etc on similar days!!! The other day..I made a  'Bean burger' for dinner and the very next day....Ananya sends me this picture and recipe of a Eggplant Pesto burger!!

Eggplant pesto burger!!! How good does that sound! I have never had a Eggplant burger before. I love Eggplant Curries, Bharit, Eggplant Parmesan...but hardly make it at home (Well, because....M is not a Eggplant lover). He hates the eggplant mushy texture when cooked in curries. I guess...He wouldn't mind a Eggplant burger....that too, so flavorful with the fresh Basil Walnut Pesto and the Maggie-Mayo(see the recipe below! )

I can't wait to try it myself!!!

Recipe-
Pesto:
1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup walnuts
2 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
1 green chili, minced
Combine the basil with the walnuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. Add chopped garlic, green chili, cheese and pulse it few more times while slowing adding olive oil. Add salt if needed.

Eggplant Patties:
1 whole eggplant, 1 inch diced
1 Tbs parsley (dried)
1 Tbs Oregano (dried)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp minced garlic
Handful of chopped coriander
Salt, red chili powder, cumin powder as per taste
Oil to shallow fry the patties
Saute eggplant on low heat till grey and very soft.Mix together eggplant and all the rest of the ingredients, except oil, let rest for ½ hour in refrigerator. Form Patties and cover them with corn meal/rava/bread crumbs. Shallow fry each side of patty for about 5 mins on medium heat.
Toast burger buns and assemble with cut onion, pattie, maggie-mayo (Maggie hot and sweet sauce and mayo mixed together) on one side and pesto on other side.

"Appetizers"- Eggplant Rollatinis

Are there any 'food choices' that are different between you and your significant other? They say that....after years of living together, a couple becomes 'like' each other. Do their food preferences change too???

Between me and 'M', there are many 'food differences'. I love Rice and dishes made with rice.He eats rice in the form of 'Biryani' only. I like eggplant.He hates eggplant.I like bananas.He can't stand bananas.I like prawns....he can hardly taste them....

So, when he is out for work..I indulge into my favorite foods!!! 

This was one such 'Eggplant' indulgence for me....

Ingredients:
8 Eggplant slices(about 3/4th cm thick, cut from center of a large eggplant)
1/4cup Cream cheese
1/4 cup pepper jack cheese shredded
2tbsp Parmesan cheese
1/2tsp red pepper flakes
1/4th tsp ground black pepper
1/4tsp garlic paste
1/4th cup chopped cilantro
salt
oil
Maggie hot and sweet sauce/ Marinara sauce/ ketchup

Method:
1) Apply salt and pepper on the eggplant slices. Rub a little oil.Grill on a 'grill pan' for a minute on both sides to cook the eggplant and get those gorgeous 'grill marks'.
( I love to eat the grilled eggplant just by itself too!!!!)

2) Mix the cheeses, red pepper, black pepper, salt, cilantro,garlic. etc to get the filling.
3)  Place the filling in the center of the grilled eggplant and roll it up into 'Rollatini'

4)  Serve along with Maggie hot and sweet sauce ( this one is my favorite.I can eat anything and everything with it!!!)  or Marinara sauce or Plain ketchup.

5) You can also bake the Rollatinis before serving with extra sauce and cheese on top.

                Enjoy the cheesy,spicy eggplant rollatini warm or hot!!