Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Eggplant fry and kitchen garden

Gardening is one of my favorite hobby from childhood. After coming to US, I couldn't understand this weather for a few years and planted only mint, herbs and some flowering plants. Bringing the plants indoor for cold weather and maintaining them is equally interesting but needs more space and knowledge. Then I wanted to grow some seasonal plants (annuals) as if it is a typical kitchen garden. This summer (by June) we bought 3 eggplant seedlings and one tomato plant from the local grocery shop. The apartment has allowed the residents to have some garden space. We planted them in our garden space in downstairs and the plants started growing very fast. I watered them regularly and fed them with home made fertilizer. My neighbors are already much enthusiastic gardeners and hence I started enjoying gardening again with them all. Within 6 weeks we could harvest huge eggplants (18 till now and still coming up) and I made many dishes with that. Also I shared the brinjals with my neighbors and got back some green chillies, long hot pepper (bajji milagai), tomato, spring onion. Our eggplant tastes very good, just like butter (am I boasting now:)). Totally we all enjoyed that buttery creamy delicious home grown brinjals:)
Here is the simple varuval (fry) I made using the second brinjal .... the first one....i picked before it got big, as I didn't realize how big it will grow: )

Eggplant varuval / fry.
Eggplant started showing up and growing.

Eggplants in cluster.

fully grown eggplant shrub.

see the small seeds inside...buttery eggplant.

I weighed each and every brinjal and noted down for fun. The biggest one weighed 584 gm :)

Ingredients: 
Eggplant (big brinjal) - 1 (300 gm)
oil - 2 tbsp
fennel seed (sombu) - 1 tsp
onion - 1
garlic - 5 cloves
curry leaf - 1 sprig
red chilly powder - 1.5 tsp
garam masala powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
salt - to taste

Method:
Cut the eggplant into small cubes. Heat oil in a wok and add the fennel. After it gets mild red, add the chopped onion and fry till it gets golden brown. Add the crushed garlic, curry leaf and fry for 10 seconds. Then add the chopped eggplant and stir well. Cook covered with a tbsp of water and low heat till it is well done. Add the chilly powder, garam masala, turmeric, salt and cook covered in low heat for a few minutes.
Switch off before it gets mushy.
Eggplant varuval is ready!

 Serving suggestions:
Serve as side dish with chapati or any rice.

18 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Thats really wonderful to have a garden and cook with home grown veggies na..WOW 584grms that incredible.

Love this kind of simple and delicious stir fries.

divya said...

Wow ! Really its tempting me to taste it right now :)

VineelaSiva said...

Wow its nice to see home grown plants and curry with that.I too have same problem.But i have only methi and basil.Can u tell what is home fertilizer?

Unknown said...

How lovely - I have veggie garden too and know how much of a pleasure it is to cook home grown veggies! Fry looks awesome!

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Wow..you got them from your garden..Super good...and the recipe looks very yummy...

Chitra said...

It must be really flavorful. wish to try soon..

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks you friends.
Now serving: Yes dear, gardening is the best hobby for people like us:)
Vineela Siva: Thanks dear. happy to know of ur gardening skills too. Here is what I did....1. before planting any plant, dig and loosen the soil. Put few handful of potting soil in the prepared hole. 2. water the hole and keep it overnight to cool. 3. Before planting prepare a mixture of 1 crushed raw egg with shells + tea or vegetable scraps from previous day. Pour this mixture to soil in hole and stir well. Plant the small plants we buy from store. cover with soil and make a small dent around the plant to pour water. water the plant every day. If needed feed them with this home made compost every month. (I did twice). It will be a happy garden with lots of harvest:)

Vikis Kitchen said...

Vineela Siva: Also we can make compost out of everyday veggie peels , egg shells and tea powder that goes to trash. But we can't do it inside house as it may give weird smell, so people reserve a bin in garden for that compost. There are plenty of homemade compost recipes in internet. But I didn't do them, as it is a common garden space. But my method works out best for me. Try it and tell me:)

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Gardening is such a satisfying hobby...And every turn out makes me happy..We had huge kitchen garden till few years back . That luxury is no more..The size is huge :-)

virunthu unna vaanga said...

wow... tempting curry dear... n its from your own garden... lovely garden dear...
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Suja Manoj said...

How lovely,wonderful to have a garden..the fry looks so delicious.

Sanghi said...

yum yum fry viki.. nice garden!

VineelaSiva said...

Oh thank u very much Viki.This i too try this.

Asiya Omar said...

Love gardening.Looks delicious.
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Vikis Kitchen said...

Sure Asiya. Thanks for the invite. Happy hosting and enjoy the festival dear.

kala said...

wowww cooking veggies from our garden would be really spl n exciting :)

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks kala. Yes it is the most exciting thing for me during summer:)

Divya A said...

Lovely post loved your brinjals :) And awesome 584!!! Look how healthy and fleshy it must have been :)
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