Stuffed Eggplant & Potato - Bharela Ringan Bataka

Traditional recipes have a charm of their own, and though sometimes it can get hard to find some typical ingredients, there can also be some simple yet rustic and authentic recipes which leave an impression, even when using basic ingredients; one such Gujarati recipe is the Bharela Ringan Bateka nu Shaak, which means Stuffed Eggplant and Potato. It uses chinese eggplant and baby potatoes, both stuffed and smothered in tasty and spicy Masala, which renders the unique taste to this dish. Serve it with Rotis or Rotlas, and you are sure to enjoy this Stuffed eggplant recipe - the bst part, you can use the spicy filling for any other kind of vegetable too!

Ingredients
5-6 chinese eggplants (small) - slit into half till the base
5-6 baby potatoes - slit into half till the base
2-3 fresh garlic cloves - chopped
a pinch of asafoetida
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp dhania-jeeru powder
1 tbsp garam masala

For the Filling
1/2 cup besan flour
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp ginger-green chilies paste
1/2 tbsp garlic paste
1 tsp amchur powder or lemon juice
salt, sugar - to taste
1 tbsp oil

Method
Wash and cut the eggplants and potatoes into 2 halves. Make a Slit down the middle leaving some room at the end, so that you can stuff the filling inside the vegetables.

Mix all the ingredients listed in the filling together. Stuff each eggplant and potato with this mixture and set aside.

In a wide pan, heat some oil. Wait till it gets quite hot and add the mustard seeds, chilies, curry leaves and the garlic. Add the asafoetida after the garlic sizzles.

Place each eggplant in the pan and gently stir. Sprinkle around 2 tbsp of water on top and cover. Cook on medium heat until done, around 15-20 minutes. Do stir in between to make sure all the sides get cooked evenly. Garnish with chopped Cilantro leaves and serve hot.