Vankaya Masala koora is a dry Indian eggplant curry. It is a delicious side dish for rice and Indian flatbread. Sautéed eggplant is jazzed up with peanuts and sesame seeds powder.
Easy Dinner Dishes
Rice and flat breads are staple in Indian cuisine and are served with side dishes. Quick and easy side dishes are a boon for any day and specially on busy weekdays. One of the popular side dishes from Indian cuisines are curries. Some curries are dry and some curries are wet with lot of gravy.
Theme for this week is easy dinner dishes. Today it is vankaya masala koora, which is a dry curry and a quick side dish. The other recipe for this theme is cranberry dal.
Though I served vankaya koora with rice, it goes well both roti and paratha. Other dishes in the images are carrot radish salad and rasam.
What is Vankaya Masala
Vankaya Masala koora is a dry, vegan eggplant curry. Eggplant is sautéed with basic Indian spices and jazzed up with peanut and sesame seed powder. With all the prep work done, cook time is less than 15 minutes and less than 30 minutes with prep work.
A variation to this curry is stuffing baby eggplants with peanut sesame spice mix. There are many variations to stuffed eggplants. Gutti vankaya masala is one of them.
People allergic to peanuts, try vanakya poornam where the stuffing is a sesame seeds powder. Though both these recipes call for purple eggplants, you can use Thai eggplants.
For Thai eggplant lovers, Thai eggplant with cilantro green chilies is another stuffed recipe.
Which Variety of Eggplants to use?
Any Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Thai eggplants are great for this dry curry. For today’s post it is small Thai green eggplants, though the curry tastes equally good with any one of the above mentioned eggplants. Depending on the variety, cook time might vary slightly.
Vankaya Masala Koora Recipe
Vankaya Masala Koora
Ingredients
- ¼ Kg Thai Eggplants
- 4 tsp Oil
- ¼ tsp Cumin
- 4 Curry Leaves
- 3 Green Chilies, chopped
- ⅓ cup chopped Onions
- 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- ½ tsp Salt, adjust to taste
- ¾ tsp Chili Powder, adjust to taste
- ¾ tsp Coriander Powder
- ¼ tsp Turmeric
Masala Mix
- 1 tbsp Roasted Peanuts, powder
- ½ tbsp Roasted Sesame Seeds, powder
Instructions
- Wash eggplants, cut the stalk. Cut eggplant lengthwise into 4-6 pieces depending on the size and put them in a bowl of salted water until ready to use. This avoids discoloration of eggplants.
- Heat oil in a frying pan and add cumin seeds, curry leaves and green chilies.
- When chilies change color, add onions and saute until translucent.
- Add ginger garlic paste and fry until raw smell of ginger is gone.
- Season with salt, chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric. Mix well.
- Remove Eggplant pieces from water and add to pan. Stir until spices coat eggplant.
- Reduce the flame to medium high, cover and cook for 1 or 2 minutes until eggplant changes color and is slightly soft. Do not cover for too long and do not over cook.
- Remove cover and stir fry until eggplant is cooked but firm.
- Sprinkle peanut powder and sesame seeds powder, mix well and cook for few minutes until the curry is done.
- Sprinkle coriander leaves and transfer to a serving bowl.
- Serve with rice or Indian flatbread.
Notes
- A variation to this dry eggplant curry is skipping the masala; peanut and sesame seeds powder.
- Use small purple brinjals (Indian eggplants) or the long variety. I personally prefer the Thai eggplants as my Indian store doesn’t carry the Indian green brinjals.
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Rajani says
I sometimes add a spoonful of idli podi when making brinjal. I will definitely try the peanut and sesame powder next time.
Vaishali Sabnani says
I loved the brinjals with peanuts , and these look so well made that I am tempted ! Isn’t it interesting to see so much variety of this veggie , different colours and shapes !
Kalyani says
Loved that stuffing with Peanuts, Usha ! we are fans of brinjal and I would defintiely try your recipe sometime soon …
harini says
My mom used to always look for the small green vankaya. She says they taste the best. I am sure my mom will love this version of vankaya koora.
Renu says
This sauted eggplant looks so flavourful and yum. I am drooling over eggplant, Awesome share.
Priya Suresh says
How delicious, aromatic this sauteed eggplants will be, just a bowl of rice is enough for me to have this vankaya masala koora without any fuss. Drooling here already.
sapna says
Oh my, I just love this sauteed eggplants and can finish them without anything. This eggplant masala sounds so simple but must have tasted out of the world.
Jayashree says
I love brinjal and this stirfry sounds so flavoursome. I just need some hot phulkas to finish it.
Sushma says
Love this curry so much. I add lots and lots of garlic and coriander leaves to it. Looks yum
Gayathri Kumar says
That spicy eggplant curry looks fabulous Usha. I am so loving your mini thali platters.
Suma Gandlur says
The curry sounds flavorful and that peanut – sesame powder is a classic Andhra touch.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I love the Andhra style curries because of the sesame and peanut. Looks so delicious and this is perfect with rice or roti!
Pavani says
That is a delicious vankaya koora Usha. Love the addition of peanut & sesame powder in there. Will have to try your version next time I get eggplant.
Usha Rao says
Thanks Pavani. I think you will like it
LAKSHMI BHATHENA says
Dear Usha,
This is the first time I used peanuts and sesame seeds powder in a brinjal dish and I simply loved it !!! Turned out very yummy.
Thank you so much for this recipe.
Usha Rao says
Thanks, for trying the recipe Lakshmi. I am glad you liked it.