Friday, April 17, 2009

Spicy Drumsticks & Brinjal Curry


Even Spring is not fully here yet, and I can't wait for summer already! I've already started dreaming about our camping trips and beach days, but those still seem to be a looong wait for me. I hate this in-the-middle-of weather, when it seems to be Spring, but not really. My sweaters make frequent visits to my storage box, but also come out with same frequency! Weather keeps fluctuating a lot. Mornings are colder while I cover myself with coats, and the afternoon becomes really warm or vice-versa. And I also get torn between my sandals and shoes.

Alright, without much ramblings today, I'll move on to this recipe. Someone asked me the other day, what was my favorite vegetable during my younger years. Being from India, like many of us, I was stuck with plenty of choices. Obviously, Indian cooking deals with abundant vegetables resulting in a profuse selection of vegetarian dishes. But one thing that stood unique as I thought about it more, was Drumstick! It doesn't take much to please me - Give me a bowl of rice and any drumstick dish, I will be delighted! I'm sure many of you enjoy this vegetable like me! I absolutely drool and enjoy fresh made sambar with drumsticks! Thats a killer for me. I love to scrape off that tender pulpy flesh and enjoy it. More than taste, its fun to eat this vegetable!

This is another of those traditional handed-down-from-mom recipes. But I can't seem to duplicate her taste, and lack that extra whiff that I usually find in her dish. Well, I'm sure it came out pretty well, but my mind automatically seems to compare with hers, everytime I make this. Though this is a tropical vegetable, I make this vegetable round the year, because I do get frozen drumsticks here, and thats the only version I get here :-( Even in severe winter, cooking this vegetable brings summer into my home, because I've grown up eating this vegetable in a warmer weather.

As usual, pretty basic ingredients and not so complicated recipe.

Ingredients:

  • Drumsticks - 2
  • Indian Eggplants (smaller ones) - 6
  • Onions - 2 medium (divided)
  • Tomato - 1 medium
  • Chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Cumin powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric - a few pinches
  • G.Chillies - 2
  • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp

For the paste:

  • Ginger/Garlic Paste - 2 tsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch
  • Cloves - 2
  • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  • Shredded Coconut - 3 tbsp

Procedure:

  • Pressure cook together the following for 2 whistles (depends on your pressure cooker) - Chopped Drumsticks, Chopped Brinjals, 1 medium onion (chopped), chopped tomatoes, chilli powder, turmeric and cumin powder and salt.
  • Note: You can also use Japanese eggplants instead of Indian Brinjals. But do not pressure cook them, you can chop and fry them separately with 2 tsp oil and cover it for 10 mins until almost cooked. Then add in the curry at the final stage.
  • Make a smooth paste of the above mentioned ingredients for the paste. Set aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan, season with fennel seeds. Once they turn golden brown, add the remaining Onions and then the Green chillies. Cook for some time until the onions turn color.
  • Now add the pressure cooked ingredients. Increase the heat and then add the paste. Fry and let the mixture boil until the water is almost evaporated.
  • Now, turn the heat to medium and slow fry for 5 more mins until you get a nice colored thick curry.

21 comments:

FH said...

We are bang in the middle of Spring weather this weekend, sunny and warm. Planning to do some gardening! :)

Love Drumsticks and Brinjals, this has both. Heaven to me. Enjoy.

Gita Jaishankar said...

THe curry looks delicious Sujatha, I too make a similar curry, sometimes I even add potatoes to it.

Cham said...

I make in different way the same curry. Such a long time i didn't find any good drumsticks.

Unknown said...

I love the bringal drumstick combo. Looks too good!

Sujatha said...

Happy Gardening Asha!

Wow Gita! Adding potatoes sounds so good! Will try that next time.

Uma said...

what a delicious combo! looks great and yummy Sujatha!

Suparna said...

Hi Sujatha,
yummy Brumstick and brinjal curry. Would love to try ur version of it. Mine is a little different.
Thanks dear for the recipe.
TC

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

curry looks very appetizing. lovely combo.

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Drumsticks and brinjal mmm looks like a great combo havent tried something like this... Gotta book mark ur recipe... Thanks for sharing...

chef and her kitchen said...

Lovely combination drumsticks n brinjal...looking yummy too..

Anonymous said...

Can imagine the great flavour both drumsticks and brinjal gives to the curry..superb click too

Raks said...

Yummy combo and should be very flavorful! Looks tempting Sujatha!

Deepthi Shankar said...

this is a very lovely combo Sujatha

Indhu said...

you are sooo right about the weather... keeps fluctuating in Seattle too... and love this dish... I too love drumstick sambar!

Unknown said...

wow.. looks delicious .. nice curry..

Vibaas said...

this is new to me and looks delicious.

i'm already dreaming about summer too :)

mona said...

That combination looks very good. I'm thinking of trying it with grilled eggplants, like we use to make baingan bharta, thanks for sharing the idea.

Manju said...

spring is here! (I think)...love both drumsticks and brinjal. Nice picture!!

Laavanya said...

I love drumstick too... and love the flavour it lends to sambhar when added. This curry looks awesome Sujatha.. must try it sometime.

Pavithra Kodical said...

This combo always work..I use toor dal and make sambar.This recipe seems different.Will try.

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Oh my god its mouthwatering..always i love this combination.nice photos