How to make brinjal tomato curry / Kathirikai Thakkali Kadayal
Brinjal tomato curry – This brinjal tomato curry commonly known as Kathirikai Thakkali Kadayal in Tamil is a common side dish in Tamil Nadu. This recipe is a kongunad version of Kathirikai gothsu which is simple and easy to make.
This brinjal tomato curry goes well with idli, dosa, plain rice topped with ghee, roti or even curd rice. Traditionally the entire recipe is made with a pan / cast iron pan but I have simplified the recipe by using a pressure cooker. The pressure cooker reduces the cooking time by half and hence helpful for busy people looking for shortcuts.
Checkout other curry recipes in the blog,
Brinjal tomato curry / Kathirikai Thakkali Kadayal Recipe
Cooking instructions with step by step pictures
In a small pressure cooker, add 2 tbsp oil. Once the oil is hot enough add mustard seeds. Add chana dal and urad dal once the mustard seeds crackle. Next add chopped shallots, red chillies and curry leaves. Saute till shallots are cooked.
Once shallots turn translucent add chopped tomatoes. Saute till tomatoes turn mushy.
Add chopped brinjal and saute for a few minutes.
Now add required salt for the curry.
Add in turmeric powder and asafoetida.
Pressure cook on high flame for 2 whistles along with half a cup of water.
Let the pressure release naturally.
Add tamarind pulp or tamarind water at this stage after checking for tanginess of tomatoes. My tomatoes were too tangy so I skipped adding tamarind.
Mash the curry slightly.
Serve hot with a topping of ghee.
Recipe notes
- This is a traditional kongunad style recipe where only red chillies are added for the heat.
- Masala powders like red chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala can be added instead of red chillies alone, but it alters the taste of the recipe but will be good in a different style.
- You can substitute the masala powders with sambar powder also.
- You can even blend this finely and make it as a thogayal for rice / idli / dosa.
Brinjal tomato curry / Kathirikai Thakkali Kadayal
Equipment
- 2L pressure cooker
- Dal / Potato masher
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp chana dal
- ½ tsp split urad dal
- ⅓ cup shallots
- 3 dried red chillies
- 1 sprig of curry leaves
- 2 medium sized tomatoes
- 5 to 6 small sized brinjal
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- A pinch of asafoetida
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp tamarind paste
Instructions
- In a small pressure cooker, add 2 tbsp oil. Once the oil is hot enough add mustard seeds. Add chana dal and urad dal once the mustard seeds crackle.
- Next add chopped shallots, red chillies and curry leaves. Saute till shallots are cooked.
- Once shallots turn translucent add chopped tomatoes. Saute till tomatoes turn mushy.
- Add chopped brinjal and saute for a few minutes.
- Now add required salt for the curry.
- Add in turmeric powder and asafoetida.
- Pressure cook on high flame for 2 whistles along with half a cup of water.
- Let the pressure release naturally.
- Add tamarind pulp or tamarind water at this stage after checking for tanginess of tomatoes. My tomatoes were too tangy so I skipped adding tamarind.
- Mash the curry slightly.
- Serve hot with a topping of ghee.
Notes
- This is a traditional kongunad style recipe where only red chillies are added for the heat.
- You can even add masala powders like red chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala but it alters the taste of the recipe but will be good in a different style.
- You can substitute the masala powders with sambar powder also.
- You can even blend this finely and make it as a thogayal for rice / idli
Checkout other curry recipes in the blog,