Kathirikai Thirakkal/Eggplant Stew/Brinjal Korma

Kathirikai therakal is  a famous chettinad breakfast sidedish apart from other specialities like Kosumalli ,Vengaya kosu,Chummakulambhu. In tamil kathirikai means eggplant so this is like eggplant kuruma(korma).I guess nobody does korma with eggplant and its special to karaikudi (chettinad).My mother does this dish all the time and its favourite of my fathers.Using tender eggplants will makes this korma more tasty. They do not have a lot of seeds.

Preparation time:5 min
Cooking time:15-20 min
Serves:2




Ingredients:

• 1 egg plant (little tender)
• 1 small potato
• 1 onion(chopped)
• 1/2 small tomato(chopped)

To temper:

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• 1/4 tsp Fennel seeds/Sombu
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt as required.

To grind:

• 1 tbsp grated coconut
• 1 tbsp roasted gram/pottukadalai
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds/Jeera
• 2 red chili.

Method:

• Chop the tomatoes and onion to small pieces.
• Grind the items "to grind" to fine paste.
• Heat the saute pan and add oil to it .
• Temper the oil with items "to temper".

• Add onions to pan and saute them until translucent.

• Add tomatoes and saute it until its cooked through.

• Add chopped egg plant and potatoes(if you are using cooked potato add it at the end) and saute it for 5 min.

• Add required water and allow it to boil until potatoes and egg plant is cooked through.
• Add required salt and ground paste and allow it to boil for 2 minutes or it becomes thick.

• Serve it with idly /dosa or breakfast  of your choice.

Note:

• I added cooked potatoes at last minute of boiling .
• Dont boil the gravy too much after adding the ground paste .
• Adjust the heat(chili) according to your taste.

 eggplant selection:

• The eggplant has to be thin( not fat) 
• This is done with small eggplant( not the very long ones)