Stuffed Eggplants with Rasam Powder

Rasam Podi tho Gutti Vanakaya.

This is a quick and easy stuffed eggplants curry made with rasam powder. Onion is crushed with rasam powder and stuffed into baby eggplants. The eggplants are then cooked in tempered oil till soft. Serve the stuffed eggplants with rasam powder over plain steamed rice or with rice mixed with dal.
Makes: 4 – 5 Stuffed Eggplants with Rasam Powder.

Ingredients:

• Baby Indian Eggplants 4 – 5
• Onion 1 Small
• Rasam Powder 2 Tbsps
• Red Chili Powder 1 tsp
• Salt to taste

Talimpu:

• Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
• Curry Leaves 8
• Oil 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Wash thoroughly and pat dry eggplants.
Remove stems if you prefer and slit twice vertically keeping one end intact.
Soak the eggplants in water to avoid oxidation.

Using a mortar and pestle, crush the chopped onion with rasam powder, red chili powder and salt.
Alternatively, use a spice blender to coarsely grind them.
Remove the crushed onion spice mixture onto a bowl.

Stuff around a tbsp of the prepared onion spice stuffing into each eggplant.
Keep the stuffed eggplants onto a plate the reserve any leftover stuffing mixture for later use.

Heat a tsp of oil in a pan on medium heat, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, arrange the stuffed eggplants into the pan.
Fry briefly and pour half a cup of water and remaining stuffing mixture.
Cook covered for around 10 minutes or until the eggplants are soft.
Add few more splashes of water if the eggplants tend to stick to the pan.
Once the eggplants are cooked properly, uncover and fry for few seconds till the skin turns light golden in color.
Remove from heat and serve stuffed eggplants with rasam powder over steamed rice or with roti.
Notes: Make sure the insides of the eggplants are cooked properly.

Suggestions: Adjust the cooking time according to the size of the eggplants. If the stuffing becomes too runny, add more rasam powder to tighten it up.
Variations: You can also add a tsp of tamarind pulp to the stuffing.
Other Names: Stuffed Eggplants with Rasam Powder, Rasam Podi tho Gutti Vanakaya.