Brinjal Eggplant Curry Recipes

EGGPLANT CURRY - SOUTH INDIAN BRINJAL CURRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C / 450°F (220°C fan). Line tray with parchment/baking paper.
• Cut eggplant into 2cm / 4/5" slices, then cut into 2cm / 4/5" batons.
• Place in large bowl, toss with oil, salt and pepper.
• Spread on tray, roast 20 minutes. Turn, roast for a further 10 minutes - edges should be caramelised, soft inside, but they're not shrivelled up and dismal. Use per recipe.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, let them sizzle for 15 seconds.
• Add curry leaves, stir, leave to sizzle for 15 seconds - seeds might pop, Indian cooking is very dramatic!
• Add onions, cook 5 minutes until golden brown.
• Add tomato, cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Add garlic and ginger, cook 2 minutes.
• Add Curry Spices and salt, and cook for another 3 minutes - it will be a thick paste and might stick to the bottom of the pot, don't let it burn (if it starts to, remove from stove and quickly add splash of water to loosen).
• Stir in water, and then add the eggplant.
• Gently stir, partially cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. Stir carefully once or twice (so the eggplants don't break up completely), add more water if it dries out.
• Stir in coconut milk, taste then add more salt if needed.
• Your result should be a very thick, juicy, strongly flavoured curry with eggplant partially intact but half collapsed.
• Serve with basmati rice and a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander leaves, if you want.

BRINJAL (EGGPLANT) CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants into 1-inch pieces- preferably keeping at least one side of each piece with the skin on.
• Put the eggplant pieces into a strainer and sprinkle liberally with salt. Place a small plate on top of the eggplant, and a weight on top of the plate- this process draws the excess water out of the eggplant, and it won't be overly salty. Leave for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil in a heavy pan. When hot, add mustard seeds- they will start to pop in a few seconds. When they begin to pop, add the sliced onions, garlic and ginger. Turn the heat to medium, and cook until mixture is nicely browned.
• Add cayenne pepper, tumeric, garam masala and cumin to the onion mixture. Cook spices for a few minutes, then add water and tomato paste, and reduce heat to low. Let the sauce cook gently, but don't allow it to become dry.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil over moderate heat. Add eggplant pieces to the pan, and arrange in a single layer. Saute until all sides are brown and crisp.
• Once all eggplant pieces are browned, incorporate them into the sauce pan, making sure to cover all pieces with the sauce. Add lemon juice and salt.
• Cook gently until eggplant is cooked through (about 15-20 minutes). Stir occasionally (and very gently) and serve.

EXOTIC BRINJAL (SPICY EGGPLANT)

Steps:

• Heat the 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, and fry eggplant pieces until golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the eggplant from the skillet and set aside; wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
• Heat the 6 tablespoons oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in the cumin, fenugreek, kalonji, and sesame seeds, and cook until the cumin turns golden, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat; stir in the ginger and garlic, and cook for a few seconds. Stir in the onions and green chile pepper, and continue to cook and stir until the onion is golden, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the tomato puree, chili powder, coriander, turmeric, and salt into the onions. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes, or until the oil separates. Stir in the cooked eggplant; cover and simmer until eggplant is tender, about 5 minutes. Pour in the coconut milk; stir until blended and heated through. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

EGGPLANT/ BRINJAL CURRY - ENNAI KATHIRIKAI KULAMBU

Steps:

• 1).Heat oil in a pan add onions, salt, sauté it for 2 minutes then add ginger garlic paste, turmeric, add tomatoes, grated coconut, chilly powder, coriander powder, put the lid on and let it cook for 2 minutes then let it cool down, put it into the blender and make a paste.
• 2).Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chilly, urad daal (optional), curry leaves, add the prepard paste of onion, tomato and coconut, mix this and put the lid on and let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes, add tamarind juice, water, mix it, add jaggery, once it comes to boil add fried baby egg plant, salt, mix it well and cook this for few minutes, then switch off the flame.
• 3).Serve this with rice or roti.

BRINJAL (EGGPLANT) IN COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Season brinjal with 1/4 teaspoon chile powder, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt; set aside until flavors to set, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir brinjal until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Combine coconut milk, reserved tamarind juice, 1 1/2 tablespoons chile powder, coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder in a saucepan; heat over medium heat until flavors have combined, 5 to 10 minutes. Add cooked brinjal and mix well.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a separate skillet over medium heat; add mustard seed, curry leaves, and dried chile peppers. Cook and stir until fragrant and toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour oil mixture over brinjal.