Eggplant Tomato Dal

Vankaya Tomato Pappu.

Oil is tempered with South Indian style spices. Indian eggplants / brinjals are chopped up and cooked in tempered oil along with tomato and tamarind. Then the cooked masoor dal is added to the eggplants and boiled for few minutes before serving eggplant tomato dal with steamed rice or with roti or chapati.
Makes: around 3 Servings of Eggplant Tomato Dal.

Ingredients:

• Red Lentils Split / Masoor Dal 1 Cup
• Baby Eggplants 3
• Tomato 1 Large
• Green Chiles 3 – 4
• Tamarind 1 inch Piece
• Turmeric Powder a big pinch
• Red Chile Powder 1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste

Talimpu:

• Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
• Broken Dried Red Chiles 3 – 4
• Garlic 1 Clove
• Curry Leaves 5
• Oil 2 tsps

Method of preparation:

Wash masoor dal under fresh water to remove any dirt.
Boil masoor dal in 2 cups of water and turmeric powder for around 15 – 20 minutes or until masoor dal is cooked and is transparent.

Remove stems, wash and chop the eggplant into small chunks.
Remove stems, wash and slice the green chiles.
Wash and finely chop the tomato.
Peel and slice the garlic.
Soak tamarind in quarter cup of water and extract all the juice.

Heat oil in a small pan, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, add green chiles, chopped eggplant, red chile powder and salt.
Fry briefly and stir in chopped tomato and tamarind extract.
Cook till tomato and eggplant is soft.
Then stir in cooked masoor dal and adjust the salt if necessary.
Cook on low flame for around 5 minutes to let all the flavors develop.
Serve eggplant tomato dal with steamed rice and a crispy papad or with roti.
Notes: Make sure to add salt once the eggplant is added to the tempering.

Source: Talimpu