Delicious Stuffed Brinjal (Eggplant) Curry.

Almost everyone loves stuffed Brinjal curry. There many ways to make it, according to the region one belongs to, in North India it is made differently and that also tastes good.
Some times we can mix both ways  to make this wonderful dish.
Today, I made this as a side dish in the South Indian style.
It is very easy to make with all the ingredients, present always in the kitchen.

Here are the ingredients needed for making Masala for the stuffing:

1.Baby Brinjals about 10 to 12 (slit into 4 only half way)
2. Oil about a few drops (just to brush a little)
3.Urad dhal 1 tsp
4.  Dry Coriander about 3 tsp
5. Peanuts about 2 tblps
6. Grated dry Coconut (Copra) 2 tblsp
7. 2 red chilies ( you can add more if you feel like)
8. Sesame Seeds about 2 tblsp
9. Cinnamon about 2 inches long, 1/2 tsp of Hing
10.Clove: 2 and 1 tsp of  Febugreek seeds
11. Plenty of Curry leaves

Method:
1. Dry roast Coriander, Red Chilies, Cinnamon, Cloves, Sesame seeds, Fenugreek Seeds and let them change color a little bit, and then add the curry leaves. Keep them aside to cool.
2. In the same pan dry roast the peanuts, remove it and keep it aside
3. Dry roast the dry grated coconut/or if you don't have dry coconut, just dry roast the fresh grated coconut. Keep it also aside to cool.
4. Once they have cooled down grind the peanuts coarsely, don't let them become powdery. Keep it aside.
5. In the same grinder jar powder all the  other ingredients, including the Hing.
The aroma that would emanate from this masala is mind blowing.
Some people add Jaggery, but I have not added, as the sweetness is there from the coconut itself. But if you like you can some (only a little bit)  add it later towards the end  of the cooking .

I made this in the Microwave. It takes the same time whether you do it in the Microwave or on the gas stove.
I just brushed a drop of sesame oil on the slit Brinjals.

To do the stuffing:
Take the ground mixture, add salt to taste, 1 tsp of Turmeric powder, mix them well.
Now stuff each Brinjal between the slits
Place then in a glass Microwave safe bowl, cover it loosely with some paper towels
 Keep the Microwave on high for about 5 minutes.
Take it out in between and just turn the brinjals.
After 5 minutes it would almost be cooked

 Take them out and add coarsely ground Peanuts and keep it high for 2/3 minutes  or till it done completely.

Now for the Tempering:
  Heat a pan on the gas stove, add 1/2 tsp of Sesame oil ( if it is not there  it is okay you can use vegetable oil)
Once it is hot enough add 1/2 tsp of Mustard seeds and a few  fresh Curry leaves
 Now transfer the Brinjal Curry to the pan and just lightly stir them once so that everything is well blended.

 Place it in a serving plate and decorate it with freshly chopped Coriander leaves.
 Now your Stuffed Brinjal Curry  is ready to be served.

Remember, we can cook delicious dishes using less oil, less salt , less sweetness, less spices and still enjoy them. Once you have tasted the goodness of food cooked this way, you will never go back to the old style cooking. Can you believe it, that this whole dish was prepared using less than 1 teaspoon of oil and I have only dry roasted all the ingredients for the masala?

 Change to a new healthier life style: Cook out of the box!

Next recipe would be "More Kuzhumbu", you would definitely love the way I make it.