Brinjal curry recipe or vankaya kura – Brinjal also known as aubergine or eggplant is one of the favorite among many. It is a low calorie veggie that has some unique nutrients like iron and minerals. Brinjal is most commonly used in Indian cuisine to make curry, gravy, stir fry and chutney or bharta. This post shares a simple & easy brinjal curry that can be served with rice or roti, chapati.
Usually brinjal curry is made by stuffing spice mixture and then cooking in a onion tomato gravy. Here are some of stuffed brinjal curry recipes
Gutti vankaya kura
Stuffed brinjal stir fry
Bagara baingan
Today’s brinjal curry is a super quick one to make when you do not prefer the roasting and grinding work. It tastes good and you can easily tweak it to suit your taste. You can also add some potatoes to this to make the brinjal potato curry. I have shared a recipe of this combo here – Aloo Baingan masala
You can also make this to a semi dry curry to go in the tiffin box. I have shared the details below. Make sure you use good tender brinjals.
If you are looking for more ways to include this healthy veggie in your diet, you can check this collection of Brinjal recipes.
Brinjal curry recipe
Brinjal curry recipe | How to make brinjal curry recipe | Vankaya kura recipe
Easy brinjal curry recipe - Simple curry made with eggplants in Indian style. Mildly spiced and goes well with steamed rice, roti or chapati
Ingredients (240 ml cup used)
- 250 grams brinjal or eggplant
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp mustard
- ¼ tsp cumin or jeera
- 1 sprig curry leaves (skip if you don't have)
- ¾ cup onions chopped finely (2 medium)
- 1 green chili (chopped or slit)
- 1 large tomato chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste or fine chopped garlic
- ¼ to ½ tsp red chili powder (adjust to suit your taste)
- 1/8 tsp turmeric or haldi
- Salt as needed
- ½ to ¾ tsp garam masala (optional)
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped (optional)
How to make the recipe
Preparation for brinjal curry
Chop onions and tomatoes finely, Slit green chili and set aside.
Making brinjal curry
- Add oil to a pan and heat it
Next add mustard ,cumin and allow them to splutter.
- Add curry leaves. Fry for about a minute.
Then add onions and green chili. Fry till transparent.
While the onions fry, wash and cube brinjals. Keep them immersed in a bowl of water to prevent discoloring.
When the onions are golden, add ginger garlic and saute until the raw smell goes off.
Add tomatoes and little salt. Fry for 2 mins. Cook covered until the tomatoes turn soft.
Then add chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala. Saute until the masala leaves oil.
Drain off the water and add chopped brinjal to the pan. Saute for 2 to 3 mins.
Pour half cup water. Cover and cook till they turns soft and tender. If you prefer a dry curry then reduce the water.
Simmer till the curry becomes thick. For a gravy curry, add more water and simmer a little longer. When done the brinjal turns soft.
Sprinkle coriander leaves.
Serve brinjal curry with rice, roti.
Preparation for brinjal curry or vankaya kura
1. Chop onions, tomatoes and green chilies. I prefer to deseed the tomatoes for this curry.
2. Wash and cube brinjals. Immerse them in a bowl of water to prevent discoloring. I usually add half a tsp of salt to the water as it prevents the veggie from turning bitter. But if left long, brinjal will absorb the salt. So do it just before using them.
How to make brinjal curry
3. Heat oil in a pot. Add mustard and cumin. When they begin to splutter add curry leaves. Fry for a minute.
4. Then add onions and fry until golden or transparent.
5. Next fry ginger garlic just until a nice aroma comes out.
6. Then add tomatoes and sprinkle salt. Fry for about 2 mins and then cook covered until the tomatoes turn mushy.
7. Add chili powder, garam masala and turmeric.
8. Saute until the raw smell of chili powder goes away.
9. Remove the brinjal cubes from water and add to the pot.
10. Saute them for 3 mins.
11. Pour half cup water. If you prefer a dry brinjal curry then reduce the water and add as and when needed while you cook.
12. Mix and cook covered on a low flame.
13. When the brinjal is cooked, you will notice the skin turns loose or wilted depending on the kind of eggplants used. It turns soft too.
14. Check salt and add more if needed. Sprinkle coriander leaves if you have.
Serve brinjal curry with rice or roti, chapati.
Mounika says
Super and good combination
swasthi says
Thank you Mounika
Zanna says
ahhh finally I got this dish right thanks to your recipe! 🙂 <3
swasthi says
Welcome Zanna