Gutti Vankaya Kura

Telangana stuffed brinjal curry — small, round purple or green brinjal (vankaya) are slit crosswise at the base without cutting through, then stuffed with a freshly ground paste of roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, dried coconut, dried red chilli, coriander seeds, cumin, and garlic, fried in sesame oil with mustard seeds and onion until the brinjal softens completely and the oil separates from the masala. The stuffing seeps out into the oil during frying and forms a thick, nutty, dark-red coating sauce. The Telangana version uses a heavier hand with sesame and peanuts than the Andhra version, giving the dish a distinctly richer, nuttier character. One of the most celebrated preparations in Telangana cooking; a marker of festive cooking and generous hospitality.