This is probably *the best* combination of veggies I ever had ( Ok, I hear some saying - NO WAY!!. Some do have a love-hate relationship with this curry! ).
... But, I love the subtle and beany flavor of Indian broad beans ( a.k.a Chikkudukaya/ Surti lilva) combined with that of Eggplant, which gives a very different and distinct flavor to this dish. Believe me, ever since my mama made this dish for me ( probably when I was in my 5th standard...), the entire bowl of this curry made is JUST FOR ME...!!! After I came to US, I hardly could find some fresh beans, Thanks to *frozen food*, I quickly grabbed a pack of frozen beans last weekend and made my favorite curry, almost an year later...!! Served with hot rice and a dollop of ghee, the taste of this curry enhances multi fold...:DDD
Ingredients:
1 frozen pack of Indian Broad Beans
4-5 medium sized Eggplant
2-3 tsp Oil
2-3 cloves of Garlic
3/4 tsp Red Chilli powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Turmeric
fresh coriander leaves
3 tbsp grated coconut (optional, but enhances taste!)
For Tadka/Seasoning:
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
1 tsp Jeera/Cumin seeds
a pinch of hing/asafoetida
few red chillies
How to prepare:
1. Heat some oil in a pan, add in all the ingredients listed for 'Tadka' one by one until they splutter. Add the finely chopped garlic and saute until brown.
2. Then add in frozen beans ( which infuses some moisture into the curry) and let them cook for 2 mins until soft. Later, add the chopped eggplant and let the veggies cook for a while.
3. Season with salt, turmeric and red chilli powder. Mix the contents well.
4. Finally sprinkle some grated coconut over the top and cook for 2 more mins.
I served this dish with hot rice and spicy eggplant discs!! Yumm-O..:)
There are many variations to this curry, Some add jaggery, sesame seeds/powder, mustard powder etc etc. But, I like to have this basic curry as I don't want to add in stuff which can overpower the distinct taste of my beans!
I love the addition of garlic to this dish. So, off this goes to JFI: Garlic hosted by dear Mathy!
- Siri
Wow, your curry looks good. I have tried this combo - lima beans and eggplant, but not surti lilva and eggplant. Of course, in udhiyu the same combination exists with many more vegetables. I am going to try this recipe now as soon as I find Indian eggplants. I have frozen broead beans in the freezer/
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic!! Nice entry! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link back siri, I like this version too, I think I have an affinity towards the beans , now that I dont get the fresh ones at all!
ReplyDeleteit's all about the taste, siri and I can see this delicious curry pairing well with hot rice yum!
ReplyDeleteBroad bean & Brinjal new combo for me...Looks delicious ur pairing Siri!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love vegetables, it would be hard for me to pick one combination as a favorite, but your broad-bean-eggplant duo looks hard to beat!
ReplyDeletenever tried this combo! Thanks for the tip :)
ReplyDeleteHaven't tried this combo....am sure it tastes great.
ReplyDeletesiri..that looks so delicious..just like my mom's..nice entry!..
ReplyDeleteand dear I am waiting to be served with dosas ok!..:D..along with this!
and its interesting to see that you are going to host so many in near future..though I suggest you remove them to have an element of suspense!..you get what I am saying..hahahh..:)..looking fwd to them right away as I love cheese!
ReplyDeleteBoth veggies are my favorites.. love the curry.. :)
ReplyDeletelove the curry ..looks delicious...
ReplyDeletei don't like either of these veggies, but who knows, they may be great together. :D
ReplyDeleteSiri, this is chikkudukaya kada? I love it, but eppudu vankai-chikkudukai combo tinaledu!
ReplyDeleteyes, this is a rare combo as far as I know. Never heard of it. looks interesting. So now I know what to cook with the eggplants resting in my refrigerator. Thanks for the recipe Siri.
ReplyDelete@ Meera: Lima beans and Eggplant is an interesting combo Meera. will try that out soon. do try this dish and let me know whether u liked it or not!
ReplyDelete@ Kalai: Thanks Kalai.
@ Dee: U wrote a very interesting article on this dish Dee. so, had to give a link back to ur lovely blog. Thanks for dropping by..I do get some fresh ones here in my nearby Indian store, but they are always not that good as frozen ones..:D
@Mandira: What u said is so true Mandira - its all about taste and how u make it...:) do try this out sometime.. hope u like it ..:D
ReplyDelete@Cham: Thanks for dropping by Cham..glad u liked the combo.. try it out.. who knows u may like it too and become *the best* combo just as for me..:)
@Vaishali: Even I love veggies vaishali except bittergourd...I had a raw one when I was a kid.. :(..do try this combo sometime.. hope u like it..
@ Nags: My pleasure nags..:)
ReplyDelete@ Jayashree: It taste absolutely heavenly Jaya. Do try out.. and don't forget to let me know how it turned out..:D
@ Srivalli: Thanks for dropping by Srii, ur Dosas are on their way.. will reach u soon..;)..Yes da, I do have some events lined up at the end of the year.. I put them so that all of us have ample time to prepare and cook accordingly.. and also to remind myself.. I am a bit forgetful..at times...:(
@ Sowmya: Thanks dear.
ReplyDelete@ Bee: Hmmm, I know the fact that we both esp are two opposite polar in terms of taste bee.. no wonder, u know like these..but as u said - "Who knows, they may be great together!".. believe me.. THEY ARE!..again as Mandira said - "Its all about taste!".. hehehe..
@ Sra: Aunu sra, ivi chikkudukayale..posh ga 'Indian Broad Beans' antamu ..hehhe..chala strange.. nuvvu e combo tinaleda?.. okasari chesukovoi.. malli vadalavu..;)).. thanks for dropping by buddy!
@ Uma: My mom made this combo when I was a kid Uma and since then, it has been my all time favorite..do try this out and let me know how it turned out..ok?..
ReplyDeletemmmm..someone is spoiling someone...eggplant disc et all...Hopefully that has more effect on YOU than the poor gym going one ;-) !!!
ReplyDeleteI love this combination and your version also looks great siri. Will give it a try sometime for sure.
ReplyDelete