Brinjal Rice (Vaangi Bath)

Category:  Lunch
Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 30 mins
Servings: 1-2

Spicy Brinjal Rice, also called Vaangi Bath is a spicy and tasty meal of Andhra cuisine. Ingredients list may look long but if you try once, for sure you will love it:)

Spicy Brinjal Rice

  Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Brinjal, chopped - 3-4 nos
• Onion, cut lenghtwise - 1/2 no
• Ginger, grated - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
• Tamarind paste - 1/4 tsp in 1/4 cup of water
• Green chilly, slitted - 1
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Channa dhal - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dhal - 1/4 tsp
• Curry leaves -few
• Cinnamon - 1/2 inch piece
• Bay leaf - 1
• Cloves - 2
• Cardamon - 1 
• Asafoetida - a pinch

To roast and grind to paste:

• Oil - 1/2 tsp
• Channa Dhal - 1 1/2 tsp
• Urad Dhal - 1/2 tsp
• Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Pepper - 1/4 tsp
• Red chillies - 2 (adjust as per desired spice level)
• Peanuts (raw)- 1 tsp
• Sesame seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Coconut - 1 tbsp (I used dry coconut)

Method:

1. Soak rice for 20 mins and cook with few drops of oil and a pinch of salt. Cool the cooked rice and keep aside (Make sure the grains are separate and not mushy)
2. Heat 1/2 tsp of oil and roast the above ingredients adding sesame seeds and coconut at the end, cool down and grind to a fine paste
   
3.  Heat oil in a pan and do the seasoning (Mustard seeds, Channa Dhal,  Urad dhal, Curry leaves, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Cloves, Asafoetida)
4. Add the onion, green chilly, ginger and fry for a min
   
5. Then add the chopped brinjal, turmeric powder, saute till it becomes soft
   
6.  Add the tamarind juice, required salt and bring to boil
7. Add the ground paste and boil for few mins in medium flame till brinjal gets cooked (Don't turn it into mushy)
   
8. Switch off and add the cooked rice and mix gently
   
9. Serve hot with raita / curd or pack for lunch box:)