Bhogichi Bhaji is a traditional Maharashtrian curry that celebrates the seasonal bounty of winter vegetables along with a healthy and aromatic sauce made from coconut, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
I love to celebrate the holidays! I love to think and reflect back on memories of my childhood when my mom’s energy and enthusiasm filled our home with excitement and happiness! She would make some special dishes, desserts and we always had family and friends to share and enjoy. Now, I love to take time for my family for every festival and make sure we do something special. We talk about the festival and why it is celebrated. And of course, it always includes the traditional dishes and sweets we savor together as a family.
Makar Sankrant Festival
Today, we celebrate the first of the three-day celebration of Makar Sankrant. In India, Makar Sankrant symbolizes the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the harvest season. Some states celebrate this festival for up to four days. In Maharashtra, where I come from, this festival is celebrated for three days. On the first day which is ‘Bhogi‘, we make this special dish that celebrates the seasonal bounty of winter vegetables along with coconut, peanuts, and sesame seeds. It provides much-needed energy and nourishment to the body during winters.
This super healthy dish consisting of five different winter vegetables is a heritage recipe passed over generations and is an integral part of this festive celebration. Today I am sharing my grandma’s recipe that uses carrots, fresh green chickpeas, flat green beans, baby eggplant, and tomatoes. You can always substitute with any seasonal winter vegetables. I like it with multi-grain or millet bread topped with sesame seeds.
Here are the vegetables I traditionally use. The sauce is so yummy that it also tastes great with other vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower or string beans.
I usually prepare the flat green green beans and peel the fresh chickpeas out of the pods few days before:
Once the vegetables are ready, prepare the spice paste and then cook the vegetables in it. Your kitchen soon will be filled with a beautiful aroma of Bhogichi Bhaji.
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Bhogichi Bhaji (Traditional maharashtrian mix vegetable curry)
Ingredients
Part 1:
- 1/2 cup fresh green chickpeas removed from the pods
- 1 cup flat green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
- 6 baby eggplant cut into bite size pieces
- 1 tomato diced
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon cumin and coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon red chili powder
- salt to taste
- cilantro for garnish
Part 2:
- 1 tablespoon dry unsweetened coconut roasted
- 1 tablespoon peanuts roasted
- 1 tablespoon brown sesame seeds roasted
- 1/2 tablespoon ginger grated
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Make fine paste of all the ingredients from Part 2 with water.
- Heat oil in a medium pan. Add the spice paste and cook for 2-3 minutes stirring frequently. Add turmeric, red chili powder, cumin and coriander powder and mix well.
- Add all cut vegetables and mix well. Add salt and 1 cup water. Once the water starts to bubble up, cover the pan and cook on medium low heat until all the vegetables are cooked tender. Usually takes around 10 minutes. Turn the heat off.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with warm Roti topped with sesame seeds. Tastes divine without any bread too!
Notes
Nutrition
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Smiling Notes says
Omg this brought back memories of my childhood! ?
Archana says
Thank you! It does bring back childhood memories! Hope you get it try it.
ancientbeautyblog says
Looks amazing
Archana says
Thank you!
Sanyogeeta Sule says
Great
Nita says
Can you use bigger bharta eggplant?
Archana says
Yes! Cut into 2 inch pieces.
Pallavi Andrade says
Hi Archana, today being Bhogi, I tried this recipe and everyone in the house loved Bhogi Bhaji Thanks a ton for the recipe! Remembered my mom’s bhogi Bhaji
Archana says
Thank you! This makes me so happy!