Sour brinjal curry (Kathirikkai Pullipu)

No matter where you order the Biryani, it is always accompanied by raita. The yogurt based cucumber salad is a cooling side dish to your tongue and tummy during and after meal. But the heavy (meat or vegetable) rice needs a side dish either a mutton/chicken curry (chalna) or vegetable one. Personally, I prefer eating my biryani alone!
This sour brinjal curry (Kathirikkai Pullipu) is a typical Tamil Muslim style. If you are a Non Vegetarian, you should have tasted this one in any Muslim wedding feast. The simple brinjal is cooked in tamarind without any ground spices to go with the heavy mutton biryani. The curry is thick and should be eaten like pickle because of sour taste. Simply dip your finger in the curry and lick it, have 4 or 5 morsels of biryani. You will end up eating more than you think! Whenever my mom prepares biryani - she typically cooks this curry.




The way to cut and slit the end of brinjal: pict shows once fried in oil


Ingredients
  • Small purple brinjal: 5 counts
  • Medium onion: 1 - diced
  • Medium tomato: 1 diced
  • Garlic pods: 8 to 10 peeled
  • Ginger-garlic paste: 1/ 2 tsp each
  • Chili powder: 1 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric: 1/2 tsp
  • Tamarind: key lime size or 1+ 1/2 tbsp (paste) mixed with 1/2 cup of water
  • Curry leaves: few
  •  Gingelly/sesame oil: 2 to 3 tbsp


Seasoning:
  • Black pepper: 1 tsp
  • Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Method:

First - in microwave safe bowl add the tamarind and 1/2 cup of
water. Microwave for 45 seconds. Let it cool and extract the pulp only. DO NOT ADD ANY LIQUID

Wash the brinjal, remove the stem and halve it. Slit the end.  keep in water until ready to use.

Add  2 tbsp of oil in wide pan, place the cut side down and cook in medium heat. Flip the other side of brinjal and cook until they turn slightly soft or changing color.

Remove the brinjal and keep aside.

In the same oil, do the seasoning with black pepper and mustard seeds, when the mustard seeds pop, add the onion and garlic, fry until translucent, followed by tomatoes. Cover and cook until they turn soft and mushy. Now add the ginger garlic paste and curry leaves fry few seconds.

Add the chili powder, turmeric and the tamarind extract.
Adjust the salt level/ spice level and add 1/4 cup or more water if you want a little more gravy.

Bring it to boil in medium low heat and cook another 8 to 10 min- until the raw smell disappears.

Add the brinjal at the end and mix gently with the masala.
Keep another 5 minutes and switch off.

Enjoy with biryani as a side dish, taste good with curd rice or plain rice.




Comments

As you said I normally either make the raitha or any gravy. This brinjal sidedish is my hubby's favorite. I was wanting to call up my MIL for the recipe, now I will try your version the next time I make biryani !!
Sumi said…
I love this dish. One of the cooks who cooks regularly for our functions adds fried and powdered sesame seeds and ground nut to this. Tastes absolutely divine. But I make it the way you have mentioned here :). Happy weekend.
notyet100 said…
I have some baby brinjals,maybe I will prepare this,..looks yum
Finla said…
I have never had this but just looking to the pic i am drooling and wish i had these right now with mutton biriyani.
Priya Suresh said…
Makes me hungry,super tempting and irresistible..
Cant take my eyes from ur clicks, truly missing this pulippu curry.
Vani said…
Wow! That looks too good!!
Bong Mom said…
I don't think I have had this but it looks too good
Shama Nagarajan said…
delicious dear...inviting you to join street party food event in my blog.
vandana rajesh said…
wow cham the dish looks so very tempting..perfect with curd rice and hot phulkas.
Usha said…
Never tried this, looks very inviting!!
ruchikacooks said…
Chamka this looks so good! I will try this for our peas pulao/biryani.
Pavani said…
delicious n tempting curry dear.bookmarked it.
CurryLeaf said…
Never heard of this dish. Looks great and is a must try. :)
notyet100 said…
Why no posts ,missing ur posts ,tk cre
Reena Gupta said…
like your recipes it's look delicious...
halal foodie said…
Cham , this looks very inviting and delicious
Spices Mix said…
Nice Blog! I found interesting informative blog. Thanks for good information. table salt
Chitra said…
Its been a long time i visited ur blog. missed so many recipes.. this curry looks absolutely delicious . will try for sure :)