Kitchen Corner-Try It

    Green Chutney Stuffed Eggplant- Ravaiya  Brinjal/eggplant is a versatile vegetable, and it goes well with different spices and herbs. Stuffed vegetables always taste better, and sometimes you need to look at things from a new perspective. Ever thought that a simple green coconut chutney can be a flavorful stuffing? Well, it may sound simple, but it tastes delicious. Ravaiya is a vegetarian/vegan recipe that is a perfect example of easy-to-make, comfort homey food. It is a culinary staple of Gujarathi and Parsi cuisine.  It goes well with basmati rice or with Indian flatbread like rotis or parathas. Fried eggplant has this melting texture, and combined with the tangy, flavorful coconut paste, and spices it tastes delicious. There is a perfect balance of heat and flavor. Coconut and sugar add a touch of sweetness and balances the tart from vinegar and tamarind. The coconut chutney has a fresh flavor of coriander and mint. I have posted recipes of stuffed eggplants,...

Ennai Kathikkai- Baby Eggplant/Brinjal Masala Ennai Kathikkai is a traditional South Indian curry made with baby eggplant/ aubergines/ brinjal. A quintessential dish from the Tamilian cuisine, this curry is absolute comfort homey food, best served with steamed rice. Tamil cuisine is famous for its lip-smacking kulambu/ gravies and you will be hooked to this curry. Ennai Kathirkkai means eggplant in oil. There are two reasons why it is called so, first, the baby eggplant/brinjal is sauteed or fried in oil, and secondly, the gravy of roasted masala is slow-cooked and simmered till oil separates. This may sound complicated, but it is an easy recipe. It is the slow simmering of the roasted gravy along with the fried eggplants that does all the magic! Ennai Kathikkai is a tangy and spicy gravy. It is somewhat similar to the Kerala eggplant theeyal with onions, coconut, and tamarind. It is the right balance with coconut, turmeric, chilies, earthy spices, onion paste, and tamarind- ...

Spicy Stuffed Eggplant Today's recipe is meat stuffed spicy eggplant inspired from Lebanese and Turkish Cuisine. Recently I am trying  lot of stuffed dishes with chicken,squid and fish. This stuffed eggplant is now one of my top favorites. Eggplant is a versatile veggie and cooked in the right way, you can create innumerable recipes with it.Fried or baked eggplant is tender and tasty and goes well with rice. If you are not a great fan of eggplant/aubergine, try this stuffed version.It is insanely good and I am sure will change the way you think about this humble veggie. Stuffed eggplant is great as a main course dish. You can serve it with rice,bread or with fresh salad and you have a satisfying dinner. Recently I have been trying a Mediterranean diet and this dish is perfect and filling with veggie salad. It is also perfect when you have guests as it is filling and makes a pretty presentation.In Turkish and Mediterranean region Karniyarik is an imperial dish fit for a K...

Vazhuthananga Varuthathu/Crispy Eggplant Fry Aubergine/eggplant fry is quick and easy side dish that goes well with rice and sambar/rasam. Eggplant is a wonderful vegetable but I like it best when fried. Are you a fan of eggplant fry? Eggplant sometimes tastes bitter and soggy when fried.Adding salt and keeping aside for a few minutes will release the water from the eggplant making it perfect for crispy fries. Earlier I shared another version of breaded eggplant fry that can be served as an appetizer. This is a home style crispy fry. Try this you will surely love it. Ingredients Egg plant- 1 Chilly powder- 1 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/3tsp Pepper powder -1/4 tsp Fenugreek powder- a pinch Cumin powder- a pinch Garlic paste- 1/2 tsp Rice flour- 2 tsp Potato starch- 2 tbs (or a combination of rice flour and corn starch) Lemon juice- 1/2 tsp salt to taste oil for frying Cut eggplant into half inch thick round pieces and sprinkle a little salt after let it rest ...

Vazhuthananga Thairu Curry/Eggplant Yogurt Curry Today's recipe is a quick side dish for rice made with eggplant and tempered yogurt.  Give this recipe a try ,you will surely love it. Ingredients Eggplant - 1 medium sized ( or 6-7 small ones) Yogurt- 1 1/2cup Onion- 1/2 Green chilly-3 Curry leaves- 1 spring Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek powder- 1/4 tsp Cumin powder- 1/4 tsp Hing/asafoetida- a pinch Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Oil- 2 tbs salt to taste Cut egg plants into cubes and mix turmeric, chilly powder and salt. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutter add onions, green chilly, curry leaves and saute for a minute. Not add the eggplant and saute for two minutes in high heat. Cover and cook in low flame and till eggplants gets slightly roasted. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool down a bit. Mix yogurt with fenugreek powder, hing,cumin powder and salt. Pour this over the roasted eggplant and ge...

Vazhuthananga/Brinjal Mezhukkupuratti Mezhukkupuratti is a spicy stir fry with vegetables, onions, and spices. It is a common side dish served with rice in Kerala. You can make mezhukkupuratti with any vegetable like plantain, yard beans, yam or any other of your choice. This vegetable dish is also served in Onam/ Vishu Sadhya . Here I have used eggplant/ Brinjal. This is a versatile and satisfying side dish that you will surely enjoy.  Brinjal/eggplant is commonly used in Indian and regional cuisine to make curries, gravies, fries, and even snacks. It is rich in iron, vitamins, and fiber and I often try to incorporate it in my diet. Fried eggplant is one of my favorite side dishes and this mezhupuratti is a healthy stir fry . The recipe has a twist, I have added rice flour to the masala. It gets coated with the eggplant pieces and when stir-fried and makes it slightly crispy. This mezhukkupuratti tastes best with rice, but you can also serve it with chapathi. Try th...

Vazhuthananga Thakkali Curry/Baby Brinjal Tomato Curry Eggplant tomato curry is a quick and delicious curry packed with flavors. It goes well with rice/chapatis. I used baby brinjal/eggplant for this recipe which, is first pan-fried and added to a tangy pepper flavored tomato gravy. The fried eggplant gets simmered in a tangy, and flavorful tomato coconut gravy. The coconut is slightly roasted, to enhance the flavor. Fried eggplant has this melting texture, and combined with the creamy, tangy, gravy, it tastes divine! There is a right balance of heat and flavor, and the coconut adds a touch of sweetness and makes it flavorful.  Brinjal/eggplant  is eaten throughout India usually, curried, fried, or grilled. Each region has its recipes with regional flavors. You can also add potatoes and peas to this curry. It is a versatile and satisfying side dish that you will surely enjoy. This curry is absolute comfort homey food, best served with steamed rice.     I...