Brahmins in my neck of the woods back home don't eat meat. To make up for the lack of animal based protein they eat a lot of plant based proteins in the form of lentils, beans and dals. I am no expert and just guessing here to the reason. Most recipes cooked without lentils will have some some sort of beans or lentils added in a Brahmin style recipe.
A few years ago a friend (colleague) who was incidentally a Brahmin got me sambhar that she had cooked. I noticed that she had added black eyed peas which gave it a double dose of protein, a technique that I use all time now.
A very dear friend of my mom is a Brahmin mami from whom my she seems to be picking these ideas and improvising those with here own way of cooking. A situation that is a win win for me.
The recipe for today is one such improvisation I am guessing.
Brinjal Curry - like a Rasavangi
Ingredients
1. 8-10 brinjal washed and cut lengthwise
2. seasonings - curry leaves and mustard seeds
3. 1/2 cup of tamarind pulp from a 2 inch piece of tamarind
4. salt to taste
5. 1 tsp oil
For the Paste
1. 1/2 tbsp chana dal (kadalai paruppu)
2. 6 red chilies
3. 1 tbsp grated fresh coconut
4. a small piece of asfoetida
Roast the chana dal, chilies and asfoetida and grind to a paste with the coconut adding a little bit of water.
Method
1. In a pressure heat the oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves.
2. When the mustard pops add the brinjal and saute till the brinjal starts to get a slightly brown tinge.
3. Add the ground paste, tamarind pulp, salt and 1/2 cup of water and let it cook for one whistle.
Note:
1. The amount of water to be added depends on how thick you want the curry to be.
2. Chana dal tends to make the curry thick so add water accordingly.
Goes very well with rice and a drizzle of ghee.
Curry looks so delicious ,new for me
ReplyDeleteYumm, delicious curry..quite flavourful..
ReplyDeleteNever had this curry i would love to have this with rice, jsut the thought make me drool :-)
ReplyDeleteI have always loved the name "rasvangi", so very lyrical.Did the schools open yet ?
ReplyDeleteI like that gravy. Very new to see chana dal in paste and gravy !!!
ReplyDeleteSandeepa,
ReplyDeleteyes the dish is new to me too. Yes DD is back in school. DD2 starts next week, private schools take the money and have fewer working days - don't understand that logic. I guess in NJ the kids go back next week. Oh by the way did you have problems with flooding? Hopefully not.
Priya, I know what you mean. I rarely use chana dal in a gravy. This one was new to me as well. You can swap out the chana dal for peanuts and still would taste good.
ReplyDeletethis one looks so mouth-watering and easy to prepare...delicious!
ReplyDelete