Eggplant/Brinjal Fry

Ingredients

1 lb eggplants/Brinjal
1/2 large Onion chopped
salt and red chilli powder for taste

For Coarse ground paste

2 red chillies
4 green chillies
1 tbsp cumin seeds
small piece of ginger
2 big cloves of garlic

For Tempering/Popu

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds
1 tsp chana dal
1 tsp urad dal
pinch of hing(Inguva)
1 clove of garlic chopped real fine
4 or 5 curry leaves
3 tbsp olive oil

Method

For Paste

If you have a mortar pestle on hand go ahead and use that. If not do not worry. Just throw the ingredients into the blender and give 3 or 4 pulses.

For Curry

Chop the onions and keep aside. Now take cold water in a big bowl and add some salt to the water. Cut the egg plant and throw the cut egg plant into the salt water. This will prevent discoloration of the eggplant. The size of the egg plant pieces has to be like the below picture. Try to chop the eggplants uniformly so that everything will cook at the same time.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the tempering ingredients except for the curry leaves and let them splutter. Now add the curry leaves and fry for 10 seconds. Add the ground paste and fry for 2 minutes.

Add the chopped onions and fry for 5 minutes or till they turn translucent. Now add the eggplant and salt. give it a gentle mix and close the lid. Usually the water from the eggplants will be enough to fully cook the eggplants. After 5 minutes if you do not see water oozing out of eggplants add 3 to 4 tbsp water and close the lid. Let it cook till all the water evaporates for about 10 minutes on medium flame. At this point take out a piece and taste to see if the eggplant is fully done. If not add about a tbsp or 3tbsp of water and let it cook. Also adjust the salt if needed.
Take off the lid and let all the moisture evaporate and the curry looks dry. Add the red chilli powder and turn off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Note

Add water only if it is absolutely necessary. Adding too much water or not adding enough oil will result in mushy baby food type eggplant curry. If the eggplants are fresh you do not have to add water.