Stuffed Eggplant /Stuffed Brinjal/ Enna kathirikkai/

Eggplant or Brinjal or Kathirikkai(in Tamil) is one rare species. I have not seen anyone loving the vegetable but I have seen many hating including my husband J until I made the very famous enna kathirikai. And he also gave me a surprise by handpicking them during our grocery shopping.And thats why friends,if you have anyone in your family hating brinjal you should definitely give this a shot :-) !!

Ingredients

• 4 Indian brinjals
• juice extracted from a small lemon sized tamarind
• 1/2 cup of chopped onions 
• 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp corainder seeds
• 1 tbsp channa dal
• 4-6 dry red chillies(adjust to your taste)
• 1 tbsp jeera(cumin)
• 1 tsp pepper corns(optional for extra spice)
• 2 cloves
• an inch cinnamon
• 1 tsp saunf
• 1/4 cup grated coconut 
• mustard seeds
• curry leaves
• Hing

Pre-cooking

• None.

Method

• Dry roast all the ingredients highlighted in yellow and grind it to a fine powder(Keep in mind to add the grated coconut at the end)
• Slit the brinjals into four equal parts keeping the stem intact.
• Apply little oil inside the slits and fill them with the ground powder.
• Do not try to fill in everything. Keep the remaining powder aside.
• Saute the brinjals in little oil for a few minutes and keep aside (take out when the skin changes colour)
• Heat oil in a kadai  and temper with the ingredients highlighted in green.
• Then add the onions and fry till golden brown.
• Add the tomatoes along with the onions and cook until the whole mixture blends well.
• Now add in the tamarind extract with 2 cups of water and add salt.
• After it comes to a boil, add the brinjals and stir in the remaining ground mixture as well.
• Cook covered in medium flame for around 10 minutes.
• Once you get a thick consistency and the brinjals are all done,switch off the flame.

Serving suggestions

• Serve with hot rice and a dry poriyal

Tips

• Using gingelly oil for the entire recipe gives a good flavour.
• You can make the gravy little bit watery if you like.

The sisters at Hamaree Rasoi have given the awards, thanks dears ! 

I would like to pass these on to , 

 Piper from the Crazy Apron

Aruna from the Veggie Paradise

Swapna

Siddhi