Brinjal buttermilk curry

Kathirikkai more kulambu, Eggplant curry with buttermilk, South Indian more curry.

'More' is the Tamil word for Buttermilk . 'Kulambu' means 'stew' poured over rice.So 'More kulambu' means a stew prepared with Buttermilk. This kulambu is a must if you prepare a traditional TamilNadu style lunch. More-kulambu should be served over steamed rice , after serving sambar and vathak kulambu.

I used our homegrown eggplant which was nearly 350 gms. As it was very big for a more kulambu, I halved it and used one half to make more kulambu one day and used the other half to prepare sambar the next day.

More kulambu.....our favorite curry with our favorite vegetable.

Another beautiful aubergine / eggplant from our garden.

I used the largest brinjal to make serwa .

The largest aubergine brinjal from our garden

Brinjal serwa I made using our largest brinjal. It tasted absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:
curd (Indian Yogurt plain) - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Brinjal - 150 gm
Ginger - 2 inch
green chilli - 2
Bengal gram / channa dhal - 1 tbsp
rice - 1 tsp
salt - to taste
coconut oil - 1 tbsp
mustard - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilli - 2
curry leaves - 1 sprig
water - 2 cups

Method:
Soak channa dhal and rice for 30 minutes.

In the mean time prepare the brinjal.
Wash the brinjal and cut it into long thick slices.
Heat oil in a wok and add the brinjal pieces.
Fry well in low heat. Cook till it is almost done with a mild red color.
Take out and keep aside.

Grind ginger , green chillies , rice and channa dhal to a fine paste.
Heat 2 cups of water in a cooking pan and add the ground paste along with turmeric and salt.
Cook for few minutes till raw smell goes.
Now add the fried brinjal and bring it to a boil.
Before switching off add the curd. Mix well.


Now heat 1 tsp oil in a pan (that we used to fry brinjal).
Crackle the mustard seeds and add chopped dry red chillies with curry leaves.Add this tempering to the prepared curry.
Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Brinjal more kulambu is ready.

Serving Suggestions:
Serves 4 people.
Serve over steamed rice.
Potato fry is a good side dish for More Kulambu.

Spinach Enchilada

Enchilada is a popular Mexican dish. Enchiladas are made by rolling corn tortillas around some filling like beans or veggies and covered with chile + tomato puree and baked with cheese. Click to read more about it. I have a very nice neighbor (Shukla aunty) and we exchange our best dishes always. Last month she brought us a plate of flavorful enchiladas she prepared using spinach. She made it from scratch and taught me that recipe. Here is that yummiest enchilada with 'home made enchilada sauce'. We used my homegrown basil leaves in this recipe. This may be a unique recipe with little Indian touch and sweetness, but this is the best for us. Hope you all enjoy!

Basil plants are growing (right)

Ingredients:
tortilla - 6
shredded mozzarella cheese - 3/4  cup

Spinach filling:
Spinach - 1 small bunch
onion - 1/2
garlic - 3 clove
bell pepper - 1/2
cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
oil  - 1 tsp

Filling:
Heat oil in a wok.
Add chopped garlic and onion. Fry for a minute.
Put the chopped bell pepper. Saute till it wilts.
Then add chopped spinach and saute for 1 minute.
Add required salt, red chilly powder, cumin powder.
keep aside.

Enchilada sauce:
butter / oil - 1 tbsp
garlic - 2 cloves
green onion (spring onion) - 1 small bunch
dried Italian seasoning - 1 tsp
Tomato puree - 1/2 cup
tomato sauce - 2 tbsp
hot sauce - 1 tbsp
red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
All purpose flour - 1 tbsp
water - 1/4 cup
basil leaf - 1 sprig
cumin powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:
Heat oil and saute the chopped spring onion + garlic for a moment.
Add AP flour and saute for a few seconds.
Pour in the tomato puree and add salt, red chilly powder, cumin powder, dried Italian herb seasoning and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and cook till raw smell of tomato vanishes.
Then add finely chopped basil, hot sauce, tomato ketchup / sauce (for sweetness),  1/4 cup water and bring it to a boil. Switch off.
If needed add some shredded cheese now (anyways we will be adding cheese later).


arranging the enchiladas: 
Preheat the oven to 350 deg F. Pour  few tbsp of enchilada sauce in a baking dish.
Toast the tortillas both sides in a tawa or microwave. place them in a wide plate.
Divide the spinach filling into 6 and scoop 1 part to each tortilla.
Fold them as shown in photo and keep them in the baking dish with seam side down (touching the sauce in bottom).
Now pour enough sauce to cover the tortillas.
Sprinkle enough cheese to cover the top.

Bake 15 minutes or till cheese turns bubbly and mild red.

Spinach enchilada is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve as main course meal.

Tips:
The left over enchilada sauce (while preparing) can be refrigerated for 3 weeks and used as sauce for pasta or pizza.