Vankaya Vepudu ~ Aubergine Stir fry (4)

Quick and simple eggplant stir fry with few ingredients. The addition of ginger-green chilli paste and the presence of spices especially hing (asafoetida) work a subtle magic on the sauteed brinjals, deepening the flavor, making it taste divine.

Come tea-time, I love to spread a layer of this left over stir fry on a slice of brown bread followed by a dash of date-tamarind chutney, cover with another slice of bread, lightly toast. Goes great over a cup of hot chai.

1 Heat oil in a cooking vessel. Add the mustard seeds and let them pop. Add cumin seeds and curry leaves and toss about for 8-10 seconds. Add asafoetida and saute for a few secs.
2 Add the cubed brinjals and stir fry for 5 mts without lid on medium high. Constantly stir fry to ensure they don’t burn or stick to the pan. Add ginger-green chilli paste, salt and turmeric pwd and combine. Cook for 2 mts.
2 Add coriander pwd, methi pwd and red chilli pwd and combine. Cook with lid on low to medium flame for 18-20 mts or till the brinjals are well roasted and turn soft. Remove lid and cook on high, tossing constantly, for 4 mts.
4 Serve with hot rice or rotis.