Brinjal Garlic Thokku

Ingredients

• 250 g brinjal, quartered (கத்தரிக்காய்)
• 20 cloves garlic, peeled (பூண்டு (உரித்தது))
• 3 tomatoes, chopped (தக்காளி)
• 5 shallots, chopped (சின்ன வெங்காயம்)
• 1 tbsp, half tbsp, half tbsp cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds (சீரகம், கடுகு, வெந்தயம்)
• quarter tbsp turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் தூள்)
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder (மிளகாய் தூள்)
• to taste, as needed rock salt, curry leaves (இந்துப்பு, கறிவேப்பிலை)
• 3 tbsp sesame oil (நல்லெண்ணெய்)

Method

1. Heat sesame oil and temper curry leaves, mustard, fenugreek and cumin.
2. Add the shallots and tomatoes and saute well, then add salt and turmeric.
3. Once the tomatoes are mushy, add the brinjal and garlic and cook in the oil until soft.
4. Add a little water and the chilli powder and simmer until it thickens into a thokku.
5. Finish with a final spoon of sesame oil.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 91. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.