Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu | Brinjal Kulambu

July 14, 2014 By Vidya Srinivasan 49 Comments

Ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu is a traditional South Indian kuzhambu/ Kulambu variety. Small brinjal cooked in a tangy tamarind base makes this kuzhambu tasty. Freshly roasted and ground powder gives nice flavour to the Tamil Nadu style kuzhambu variety. Kulambu stays good for 2-3 days.

Ennai Kathirikai kuzhambu is yet another “Mom’s recipe”. Whenever she gets small brinjals from the grocery store, she prepares this dish. Knowing my brinjal addiction Amma prepares it frequently. As the same suggest “Ennai Kathirikai (Oil Brinjal)” not too much oil is used for the Kulambu preparation but it tastes heavenly.

Be it mixed with rice with lot of sesame oil or side dish forcued rice/Idli/ Dosai etc. this kuzhambu is a instant hit in our home. After coming to US I hardly finds the super small brinjal s Amma use for this kuzhambu but I manage to do the kuzhambu with the ones I get it here. Stuffed brinjal is yet another tasty variety with brinjal

If you are interested for some tasty South Indian kuzhambu varieties in TMF,

Kuzhambu varieties with tamarind

Kuzhambu varieties without tamarind

Ennai Kathirikai kuzhambu comes under Kara Kuzhambu/ vetha kuzhambu category. Tanginess in Tamarind/puli based kuzhambu gives amazing flavour for the kuzhambu. Usually I use sambar powder for the puli kuzhambu. In the brinjal kuzhambu freshly ground spice powder is used, which goes a aromatic flavour for the kuzhambu.

The spice powder stuffed in brinjal makes the vegetables so delicious and every brinjal bite is flavorful. Amma usually prepared traditional Tamil Brahmin no onion- no garlic version. For extra flavour onion and garlic can also be added.

Kuzhambu stays good for 2-3 days and the flavours get better on the second day. Sesame oil makes the KUlambu super yummy.

if you are looking for Kuzhambu varieties without dal and sambar powder this is great choice.

If you like Kara Kuzhambu based recipes try

Appalam Kuzhambu

Vendakkai Kara Kuzhambu

Poondu Kuzhambu

Kathirikai Kuzhambu

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Soaking Time :15 mins | Cooking Time : 30 mins | Serves : 3

Category:Rice Accompaniments

Ingredients

Eggplant/Brinjal/Aubergine- 8 (preferably small brinjal, since I didn’t have them, used medium sized)

Tamarind – lemon sized

Salt – as needed

Spice Powder:

Channa dal/bengal gram – 1 tbsp

Coriander seeds/Dhania -1 tbsp

Urad dal – 1/2 tsp

Red chillies – 2 (Adjust according to your spice level)

Black Sesame seeds – 1/2 tsp

Fenugreek – 1/8 tsp

Rice – 1/4 tsp

Pepper – 1/4 tsp

To Temper:

Mustard seeds -1/4 tsp

Fenugreek – 1/8 tsp

Asafoetida/hing – a generous pinch

Curry leaves – one spring

Sesame Oil – 2 tbsp + 1/2 tbsp (Typical 4/5 tbsp are used but I have reduced)

Method:

Soak tamarind and extract the juice
Dry roast the ingredients mentioned under spice powder till golden brown and switch off. Grind into a coarse powder.
Wash Eggplant, discard the stem and make two cuts leaving the bottom intact. Stuff the Eggplant with the spice powder and keep it aside

Add oil to that pan and add the items under ‘to temper’ and let it splutter. Add the stuffed brinjals, turmeric powder and salt for brinjal. Cook on low flame, stirring it occasionally till the eggplants are half cooked. Add tamarind extract, the remaining spice powder and salt for gravy
Cook till the gravy thickens. Serve the Kuzhambu with Rice and any side dish. We had it with Beans Paruppu Usili