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Tamilnadu Brinji Recipe – Vegetable brinji sadam with coconut milk

May 23, 2016 by Suguna Vinodh 44 Comments

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brinji-recipe-tamil-style-recipe

Brinji is a flavorful vegetable rice made with coconut and coconut milk. Chef Ramakrishnan in his book says “The word Brinji means nothing in Tamil, always a reasonable indicator that the recipe is a borrowed one. In central Asia, especially in Iran (Persia), polished white rice is still called berenj. Persians excelled in cooking rice. It is likely that this polished white rice cooked with mild spices by Arab traders, caught the fancy of Tamil nation and came to be called Berenji or Brinji. Flavoured Rice boiled in milk is still called Sheer Berenji (Milk Rice). It is possible that flavoured rice boiled in water might have been called just Berenji. The brinji is much older than Biriyani/ Pulao/ Tahiri, which are relatively new entrants to Tamil cuisine. Being older, the brinji has internalized south Indian ingredients like coconut and pepper. I’d think the Brinji is the earliest version of Biriyani/ pulav cooked in Tamilnadu. 50 years back no one knew biriyani or pulav in Tamilnadu. All they knew was Brinji. The Tamil name for bay leaves – Brinji elai ( Brinji Leaf) come from the fact they were invariably used in a brinji! Down south, in places like Madurai, the heart of Tamil culture, Brinji is still more famous than the Biriyani/ Pulao.”

This is an OPOS – One Pot One Shot recipe.
We are not going to saute or fry anything in this recipe. We will layer the ingredients in a cooker and cook. Do not scale the recipe up or down. Use exact measurements and equipment. If using induction stove (recommended), cook the brinji at 800W for 15 minutes or 2 whistles whichever is earlier. If using gas stove, cook on medium heat for 2 whistles.
Many people ask me if things will be raw after cooked as we are not sauteing anything. My answer is no. It will be perfectly cooked. Just try it once. I am sure you will like it.

Here is how to do brinji.
Mix all the ingredients listed under marination in a big bowl and set it aside to marinate for one hour at room temperature. During the same time, soak basmati rice in water and let it soak for one hour too! After one hour, the veggie mixture will be slightly liquidy. You are on the right track. Drain the soaked rice and set aside.

brinji-recipe-tamil-marinate

The layering process and cooking has been described in the video. Hope you enjoy.

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brinji-recipe-tamil

Tamilnadu Brinji Recipe – Vegetable brinji saadam with coconut milk


★★★★★

4.4 from 10 reviews

  • Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
  • Yield: 3 servings 1x
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Description

Recipe for Tamilnadu style brinji rice made with vegetables and coconut. This veg brinji is very flavorful tamil style recipe. Measurements used 1Cup approx 250 ml


Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients for marination

  • 1/2 cup peas, chopped
  • 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup potatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
  • 1/2 cup coconut paste (1/4 cup coconut ground with 1/4 cup water to a fine paste)
  • 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste ( 6 cloves garlic and 1 inch piece ginger ground with little water)
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Rice

  • 1 Cup (250 ml) basmati rice

For final layering

  • 2 teaspoon ghee
  • 3 bay leaves, crushed
  • 2 medium sized onion, chopped
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 1/3 cup light coconut milk
  • 2/3 cup water

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients listed under marination in a wide bowl. Mix well to combine. Marinate for one hour.
  2. Wash and soak the basmati rice in water for one hour.
  3. Take a 3 liter pressure cooker and add in the ghee. Top it with chopped onions and tomato.
  4. Add in half the quantity of marinated veggies along with its juices.
  5. Drain the basmati rice and add it on top of the veggies to form an even layer.
  6. Add in the remaining veggies.
  7. If using induction stove (recommended), cook the brinji at 800W for 15 minutes or 2 whistles whichever is earlier.
  8. If using gas stove, cook on medium heat for 2 whistles.
  9. Switch of the flame and remove from heat.
  10. Let the pressure release naturally. Wait for 20 minutes.
  11. Open the pan and fluff up the rice. Enjoy!

Notes

If using ready made ginger garlic paste, use just 2 teaspoon as its concentrated.
When layering, make sure the veggies totally cover the rice layer.

The term OPOS and One Pot One Shot are registered trademarks owned by Mr.Ramakrishnan. The recipes have been adapted using his OPOS principle. They are used in Kannamma Cooks with prior permission.

  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Cuisine: Tamilnadu

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Suguna Vinodh

I'm Suguna Vinodh aka Kannamma. I love south Indian food and I am passionate about baking. My Favorite things include my Wusthof knife, Coffee, Ilayaraja, Tamil and beaches. I love Jacques Pepin and Julia Child.

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Comments

  1. Kavitha says

    April 6, 2021 at 2:13 am

    Suguna, The brinji sadam looks fab! I’ll give it a try.

    Btw, Ramakrishnan is mistaken about brinji being the earliest for of biriyani..Late Chef JAcob Aruni had researched this far into the sangam age and have confirmed that Oon soru was the earliest form of biriyani that we Tamils made.

    Reply
    • Kavitha says

      April 6, 2021 at 2:17 am

      being the earliest for of biriyani (in Tamilnadu)

      Reply
      • Suguna Vinodh says

        April 10, 2021 at 8:20 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
  2. Sesh says

    October 3, 2020 at 7:58 am

    Hi, If using ready-made ginger garlic paste, how much to use. I use Himalayan garlic(with big cloves). Can i use three cloves and an inch of ginger? Please answer both options.

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      October 4, 2020 at 12:19 am

      Ready made ginger garlic paste, use half of the mentioned qty in the recipe as its pretty thick and concentrated.
      big cloves- 3 will work.

      Reply
  3. Devanathan says

    April 20, 2020 at 1:32 am

    thanks Kannamma

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Ramya says

    April 17, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    If we soak for 1 hour and cook for 2 whistles it will become like kanji.

    ★

    Reply
    • Jithu says

      September 12, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Depends on the type of rice you use. The basmati rice that I get stays good for an hour soaking n 2 whistles

      Reply
  5. Pavithra says

    January 22, 2020 at 1:38 am

    Waiting to try! Should I cook this at 800w even though my OPOS standardized level is at 1200w?

    Reply
  6. sunitha says

    August 8, 2019 at 7:19 pm

    why sis its been a very long time since u posted a OPOS recipe??? i came to know about OPOS and tried with confidence only bcoz of ur blog, looking forward for more OPOS recipes

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Jamuna says

    March 24, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    Hi sis I never tried brinji today I am going to try it when I seen the video I liked to make it today your cooking way is awesome sis

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      March 24, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. sumod says

    June 30, 2018 at 11:46 am

    i really help to do my project thanks

    Reply
  9. Yashaswini says

    March 4, 2018 at 5:10 pm

    Thank u for this wonderful recipe. My family members loved it to the core and after a long time i prepared this hotel taste brinji .

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      March 4, 2018 at 10:14 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Gayatri Rengarajan says

    September 7, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    I make many of ur dishes and it’s always a hit.While cooking any pulav or biryani I make in pan cooker. After closing the lid and once I get full steam, I put the weight and keep the stove on sim for 10 mins and switch off. After half hour the rice is ready. Can I do the same way or medium heat 2 whistles as u sd for this brinji opos.

    Reply
  11. Malarvizhi says

    June 24, 2017 at 11:44 pm

    Wow.. Its very easy to cook, time saving especially for working women. Delicious too…

    Warm Regards…

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  12. Chinnu says

    June 6, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    Your recipe was excellent… I had been wanting this recipe for a long time and i finally got it. Thanks for sharing with all the exact proportion.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      June 7, 2017 at 7:33 pm

      Thanks Chinnu.

      Reply
  13. Uma says

    February 12, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Mam, 2/3 cups of water and 1/3 cup of coconut milk means…… For 1 cup of rice I have to 3 cups liquid, am I right mam?

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      February 12, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      Oh no no. 2/3 is two thirds and 1/3 is one third. so total 1 cup liquid.

      Reply
  14. P Narayanan says

    January 21, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Yum! Is there a chicken or meat version pl?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      January 21, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      http://www.kannammacooks.com/pressure-cooker-chicken-biryani-easy-cooker-biryani-recipe/

      Reply
  15. Supraja says

    December 9, 2016 at 2:49 am

    Can I replace rice with millet? (Foxtail, Barnyard or Little millet)

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      December 9, 2016 at 8:23 am

      Sure. You may try.

      Reply
  16. shweta says

    November 23, 2016 at 2:30 pm

    i dont have mint leaves here .
    so can i just skip that ???

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      November 23, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      you may but you will miss the flavor.

      Reply
  17. shweta says

    November 23, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    can you suggest a best side dish for this ??

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      November 23, 2016 at 2:09 pm

      veg kurma goes very well for this dish.

      Reply
  18. Shweta says

    October 31, 2016 at 2:51 pm

    How does this dish taste?

    Reply
  19. Kitcha says

    October 20, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    Tried today… Came out well… Thanks for the recipe

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      October 20, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      Thanks for trying Kitcha

      Reply
  20. jayanthi says

    June 20, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    Plz post yur comments in Tamil

    Reply
    • jayanthi says

      June 20, 2016 at 3:06 pm

      Post yur recipe making in tamil

      Reply
  21. Anu says

    June 4, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    Dear kannamma,

    Thank you so much for your OPOS recipes. It is a time saving process as well as it is so delicious.

    In tamilnadu,in this hot summer it is very difficult to cook. Now with this Opos, i enjoy cooking.

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      June 4, 2016 at 9:40 pm

      Thats so nice Anu.

      Reply
  22. Asha says

    June 1, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Hi Dear, Tried and came out so nice. Never heard of Brinji rice before 😛
    So thanks to you!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      June 1, 2016 at 7:56 pm

      Thank You!

      Reply
  23. Ashwini Benjit says

    May 29, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    Hi Suguna, Ive been a regular visitor to this blog…. i must say your blog has one of the most authentic tamil recipes, as i remember from my childhood days, Ive been following your biriyani recipes and its a big hit here in the army circle of delhi.. ( I’m married to an army officer, and do host N number of parties per month ) Just wanted to thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. And about birinji i remember the versions i grew up with in chennai… We used fried bread croutons and also sometimes soya nuggets….. and the birinji had a strong smell of just roasted garlic and no ginger… i should say u must try this version and you might love it as much as we chennaivasi’s do! thanks again for the recipes and wish u loads of luck!

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      May 29, 2016 at 7:39 pm

      WOW! Thank you so much for taking time to write to me Ashwini. This really means a lot and your message brings a big simile. Thanks.

      Reply
  24. Saravana says

    May 24, 2016 at 5:02 am

    Your videos are interesting and are in my never miss list
    I ve used india gate basmati rice n they don’t come so fluffy
    Can u tell me which brand is good
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Suguna Vinodh says

      May 24, 2016 at 11:50 am

      Did you soak the rice? Soaking the rice is important step if you want to get fluffy rice.

      Reply
    • Saravana says

      May 24, 2016 at 1:57 pm

      Ya I soak the rice everytime 20 minutes to 1 hour

      Reply
      • Suguna Vinodh says

        May 24, 2016 at 2:01 pm

        Try soaking for one hour and follow the correct water measurements for the recipe and I am sure you will have fluffy rice.

        Reply

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I’m Suguna, a former financial analyst, now a full-time food blogger. Welcome to my space. I share recipes gathered from my friends and family here. I am passionate about South Indian food. I crazy love knives. A sharp knife is a girls best friend. Hope you like the recipes here. Happy Cooking. Read more.....

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