Ennai Kathirikkai Kuzhambu makes for a special lunch. The brinjals soaked in the tangy curry is a favorite for most tamil people. My aunt used to state that the stem is what gives that unique flavor to the curry. While some people in the family agree, some don’t. Everyone enjoys this for lunch and is such a delicious curry to make. Here is how to make Ennai Kathirikkai Kuzhambu Tamilnadu style.
First, we will make a stuffing masala powder. Dry roast the sesame seeds, toor dal, red chillies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and fenugreek seeds on a low flame. Wait for the toor dal to change color. When it’s slightly brown, remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
Grind the dry roasted ingredients to a fine powder. Set aside.
Select small Brinjals / Kathirikkai and try to cut the brinjal into a cross with the stem intact. See the picture below.
Fill each brinjal with a teaspoon of the ground masala. Tightly press the brinjal to close and seal. Set aside. Repeat with all the brinjals.
Soak a lime size tamarind in 1.5 cups of water for 20 minutes. Once the tamarind has been soaked, squeeze it between the fingers to release all the juices. Strain the juice and set aside.
Note:
If using Homemade Tamarind Paste instead of fresh tamarind, dilute 3 tablespoon of paste with 1.5 cups of water. Proceed with the recipe.
Heat sesame / gingely oil in a pan till hot. Add in the mustard seeds and the curry leaves. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Add in the chopped onions and fry till the onions are soft.
Add in the stuffed brinjal and fry for a minute. Add in the tamarind juice, salt, sambar powder and turmeric powder. Add in the jaggery. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Home made sambar powder or store bought sambar powder can be used for this recipe.
Grind 1/4 cup of coconut pieces with 1/4 cup of water to a smooth paste. Add it to the pan.
Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes more.
Remove from heat and serve hot with rice.
Ennai Kathirikkai Kuzhambu, Ennai Kathirikkai Kulambu, Tamil Brinjal Curry Recipe
Recipe for Ennai Kathirikkai Kulambu, Tamilnadu Chettinad style. Stuffed Brinjal, fried in oil and cooked in a tamarind based sauce. Tamil style recipe.
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- Measurement Used – 1 Cup = 250 ml (approx), 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, 1 tablespoon = 15 ml
For the stuffing masala powder
- 2 teaspoon white sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon toor dal
- 2 dried red chillies
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
Other Ingredients
- 8–9 small brinjals
- 2 tablespoon sesame / gingely oil
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 sprigs curry leaves
- 2 dried red chillies
- 1 onion, chopped
- lime size tamarind
- 2 teaspoon sambar powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon jaggery
- 1/4 cup fresh coconut
Instructions
- Dry roast the sesame seeds, toor dal, red chillies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and fenugreek seeds on a low flame. Wait for the toor dal to change color. When it’s slightly brown, remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
- Grind the dry roasted ingredients to a fine powder. Set aside.
- Select small Brinjals / Kathirikkai and try to cut the brinjal into a cross with the stem intact.
- Fill each brinjal with a teaspoon of the ground masala. Tightly press the brinjal to close and seal. Set aside. Repeat with all the brinjals.
- Soak a lime size tamarind in 1.5 cups of water for 20 minutes. Once the tamarind has been soaked, squeeze it between the fingers to release all the juices. Strain the juice and set aside.
- Heat sesame / gingely oil in a pan till hot. Add in the mustard seeds and the curry leaves. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Add in the chopped onions and fry till the onions are soft.
- Add in the stuffed brinjal and fry for a minute. Add in the tamarind juice, salt, sambar powder and turmeric powder. Add in the jaggery. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Grind 1/4 cup of coconut pieces with 1/4 cup of water to a smooth paste. Add it to the pan.
- Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes more.
- Remove from heat and serve hot with rice.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Today I tried ennai kathirikkai. Came out well. Thank you Kannamma God bless you
Thank You 🙂
Hi Mam, All your recipes are absolutely fantastic.
You are my go to website for search of recipes based on ingredients I have.
I am glad i found multiple recipes related to brinjal on your website based on the search and opted this one to try. Gravy came out very well and thanks to you.
Thank you!
Excellent. I had it with ghee and rice.
Thank you so much. Glad you liked the recipe. Stay safe and happy cooking!
Tasty and delicious.. That smell incredible 😋😋
Thank you 😊
Hi kanamma, thanks for this wonderful recipie…I tried and it was so yummy
Thank you!
Hi kannamma, I tried this recipe, It was yummy yummy.
Thank You!
very good
Thank you!
Hi Suguna,
I normally make ennai kathirikkai kolumbu similar to Vendakkai puli kolambu and fry the brinjals (without stuffing) well in oil before adding to gravy. You recipe is mouth watering, will try your recipe sometime next month.
yayy i made it .. yummy it was. thank you kannamma. 🙂
Thank you so much!
Hi,
I am a hardcore fan of native foods, particularly the brinjal kulambu. This recipe seems so good. I will try and post my response.
Best regards
Tamarind based kulambu la
Instead sambar masala home made kulambu masala use panalama
sure. you can use home made kulambu masala.
I tried this one for lunch with kathirikai thokku.We finished off everything.So yummy!!!
Thank you so much. Really glad that you liked the recipe.
I tried this. Came out well. My hubby loved this recipe. Thanks Kannama.
Thank you so much for trying out. Really glad that you liked the recipe.
Hi suguna sister…tried enna kathrika kolambu today…Sema…thanks
Thank You sister!