brinjal fry vankaya fry

Brinjal Fry (Andhra Style Vankaya Fry)

By Swasthi on December 13, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Brinjal Fry is a South Indian stir fried dish of eggplants, spices and herbs. In Indian cuisine, a stir fry is simply referred as “Fry”. So this dish gets its name “Brinjal Fry” though eggplants are not deep fried. This Brinjal Fry is a staple in Telugu speaking homes and often referred as Vankaya Fry or Vepudu. It is made with basic ingredients available in the kitchen. Brinjal Fry is served with rice and ghee or with Rasam-rice & Sambar-rice. It also goes well with flatbreads like Chapati, Roti or even with Bhakri.

Brinjal fry

About Brinjal Fry

Brinjal Fry is a dish made by simply stir frying chopped eggplants in a tempering made of oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, ginger garlic, chilies and curry leaves.

Later the eggplants are spiced with red chilli powder & other spices.

Indian cuisine being diverse, a Brinjal Fry aka eggplant stir fry is made in numerous ways. North Indian Aloo Baingan, Stuffed Eggplant Stir Fry and Eggplant Potato Fry are other different ways of stir frying brinjals.

Andhra cuisine is popular for its spicy, flavorful & nutty dishes. This brinjal fry is made in numerous ways & each family has their own recipe. It is also served as a side dish in Andhra meals in restaurants.

However most foods served in authentic Andhra restaurants are super-hot & spicy, including this Vankaya fry. If you want to replicate the same increase the quantity of green chilies and oil in the recipe.

This Brinjal Fry is simple, quick, healthy and delicious with bursting flavors. I make this very often at home. Since my family loves change, each time I flavor the dish differently.

Crushed roasted peanuts, Idli Podi, Peanut Podi, Flaxseed podi, Coconut podi or even just coconut can be added towards the end to give a different dimension and flavor to the dish.

Flavoring the dish with these additional ingredients is optional and you may skip that if you want a more basic dish.

More Eggplant Recipes,
Baingan Bharta
Vangi Bath
Stuffed Brinjal Curry
Brinjal Chutney

Brinjal fry is Andhra style eggplant fry

How to Make Brinjal Fry (Stepwise Photos)

Preparation

1. Pour 2 cups water to a bowl and stir ¼ teaspoon salt. Wash and cut 250 grams brinjal to ¾ to 1 inch pieces. Add them to the salted water. This prevents the eggplants from discoloring & also prevents the bitter taste. If you leave them too long in the water they will soak up the salt, so add salt carefully while cooking.

2. Pour 2 tablespoons oil to a hot pan. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds.

spices spluttering in oil

3. When they begin to splutter, add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste & green chili (slit or chopped, optional).

ginger garlic in pan

4. Stir fry until the raw smell goes away & ginger garlic begins to smell good.

fry ginger garlic

5. Drain the water from the chopped brinjal & add them here. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt and â…› teaspoon turmeric. Fry them for 3 mins on a medium high heat. Then cover and cook on a low flame until soft.

stir fry brinjal

6. optional – Meanwhile if you want to use peanuts, dry roast 3 tablespoons raw peanuts in a pan until golden and aromatic. Do this on a medium heat so they get roasted well from inside. You can also roast them in air fryer.

roast peanuts

7. Cool the peanuts completely and pulse them in a grinder or a mortar pestle. I prefer to crush them coarsely.

crushed peanuts

Stir Fry

8. When the brinjal pieces are tender & completely cooked, add 1 sprig curry leaves (rinse and pat dry first) , crushed peanuts & ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala (or 1 to 2 teaspoons idli podi). Mix well and taste test.

idli podi and peanut podi

9. Add ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder only if you need and more salt. Fry for 2 to 3 mins until aromatic.

red chilli powder to make brinjal fry

10. Switch off the stove. When it cools down a bit add some lemon juice & mix.

add lemon juice to brinjal

Make sure you don’t leave the cooked brinjals in the same pan. Transfer to a serving bowl.

stir fried eggplants

Serve Brinjal Fry with rice, ghee and sambar.

brinjal fry recipe

Pro Tips

  1. Always choose tender brinjals that are fresh without any bruises. Also after chopping brinjals keep them in salted water until they are used to cook. If your eggplants have seeds, cut off the portion and discard.
  2. I have used a handful of roasted peanuts which not only perk up the nutrition values but also adds a nutty aroma to the dish. However you can skip them completely.
  3. We also add some tender green peas to the brinjal fry. You can just add them to the pan along with eggplants. If the peas are too tender then add them once the brinjals are soft cooked.
  4. You can use garam masala or idli podi to spice up your dish.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

brinjal fry recipe

Brinjal Fry (Vankaya Fry)

Brinjal fry is a simple side dish made by stir frying eggplants with spices & curry leaves. This Andhra style brinjal fry tastes delicious and can be served with rice or roti.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 250 grams brinjal (vankaya, eggplants)
  • 1½ to 2 tablespoons Oil
  • 3 green chilies slit (adjust to taste)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves (optional, pat dry)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or 2 chopped garlic cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt (divided + more to adjust)
  • teaspoon lemon juice (refer notes)

Spices

  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • â…› teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder (optional, leave out if using green chilies)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala or 1 to 2 teaspoons idli podi

Optional

  • 3 tablespoons peanuts or ½ cup fresh/ frozen green peas


Instructions

Preparation

  • Pour 2 cups water to a bowl and stir in ¼ teaspoon salt. Keep this aside.
  • Rinse brinjals & slice them or cut to desired sizes. I chop them to ¾ to 1 inch pieces. Add them to salted water.

How to Make Brinjal Fry

  • Heat oil in a wok or a pan. Add cumin & mustard. Let them splutter.
  • Add ginger garlic paste & green chilies. Saute quickly until aromatic for a minute.
  • Now add chopped brinjal, salt & turmeric. Stir fry on a medium high flame for 3 mins.
  • Then cover and cook till soft on a low flame stirring in between. While these cook, proceed to the next step.
  • Optional: This brinjal fry recipe can be made without peanuts too but they impart a nutty taste. So this step is optional. Dry roast or air fry them until golden and aromatic. Cool & crush them coarsely either in a mortar pestle or grinder. (check pics in the post)
  • When the brinjals are completely cooked and soft, add curry leaves, crushed peanuts & garam masala (or idli podi).
  • Stir fry on a medium heat until aromatic for 2 to 3 mins. Taste test and add red chilli powder & salt if you want.
  • Turn off and when the brinjal fry cools down a bit, pour lemon juice if you want.
  • Serve brinjal fry with rice, chapati or Rasam-rice or Sambar-rice.


Notes

If you are allergic to eggplants, try using lemon juice. It helps to prevent skin itch caused by eating eggplants.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Brinjal Fry (Vankaya Fry)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 167 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 198mg9%
Potassium 242mg7%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 180IU4%
Vitamin C 21.5mg26%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Brinjal Fry Recipe first published in December 2012. Updated in December 2022.

Brinjal Fry (Andhra Style Vankaya Fry)

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Comments

Recipe Rating




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5 stars
Was looking for a quick & tasty eggplant recipe, and this hit the spot. Added a boiled potato and a spoonful of homemade Coorg curry masala.

Your recipes are always on the money and your blog is my go-to-bible for Indian recipes of all – e.g., your Hyderabadi egg biryani was a hit and I made it twice in two weeks already for ourselves and then guests! Thank you!

5 stars
I am a big fan of your blog and have tried so many recipes. They turn out delicious. This brinjal fry is so good and my husband loves the peanuts included. Thank you

5 stars
I was looking for a new, easy recipe with brinjals. Made it now. Turned out great.
Thanks and Happy New Year.

5 stars
Yummy! Made this and it’s delicious. I used peas but left out chilies and curry leaves. It was still good.

5 stars
Tried today it came out delicious after many years my husband ate it completely telling taste is delicious

5 stars
Loved the simplicity of this recipe. Thanks for sharing. Turned out very good.

5 stars
Yummy brinjal fry. My husband loves this. We love your recipes always a super hit. Thank you

5 stars
Great and simple.
Quick to make, delicious to taste.
Thanks.

Trying to cook this recipe for the first time. Does the salt water need to be cold, warm or hot water? And how long to keep the eggplant in Salt water?

5 stars
Awesome!! I liked the recipe

5 stars
Love this andhra eggplants. So good with rice and ghee

5 stars
I haven’t tried eggplant in many years because it would cause itchiness. But your recipe tempted me to try eggplant again. And I’m so glad I did! I had no reaction (goodbye childhood allergy) and it was delicious! Looking forward to cooking more of your recipes. Yum!

5 stars
Very delicious. Came very nice

Its vry hlpful

Tried this today and it came out so good…Love your blog because its easy to follow as you post every recipe with pictures. I appreciate your patience and thanks for your great recipes.

Droolworthy combo, excellent side dish.

Unique version dear, yummy!!!

never had this combo of brinjal and peas before.. nice version dear..

Looks tempting.

Would great with chapathis, Looks nice

wow this looks so good, super inviting

Simple brinjal fry goes nice with rasam.

Addition of milk is new to me. Sounds delicious.<br />