Even though I’ve lived in Nepal on and off for the last few years, it has taken being stuck inside for three months for me to finally learn to make traditional Nepalese food. My Mother-in-law (who we call Muwa), was kind enough to teach me how to cook a few of the basics starting with dry brinjal curry with potato. If you’re tuning in from America, brinjal is the word South Asian countries use for eggplant.
What you need to make Nepalese Dry Brinjal Curry
The thing is, Nepali food really isn’t that difficult to cook. There are a few spices I’ve never heard of, but once you know the basics, you can cook a lot of different things. In case it’s your first time cooking Nepalese food, I’m including a list below of the basic spices and ingredients you’ll need (excluding produce) that you can purchase online. Some things can easily be bought at a local grocery store while others may take a little more searching. Note: not all items listed below are needed for this recipe.
How to serve Dry Brinjal Curry
In Nepal, it’s customary to have rice with dal (lentil soup) along with a few side dishes whether these be meat or vegetable. The dry brinjal curry is best served as a side dish with rice and dal. The flavor is rather strong, so the rice and other items help balance the flavor as you would typically mix everything together on your plate.
Nepalese Dry Brinjal Curry Recipe
Equipment
- Mortar and Pestle
- Wok or Large Fry Pan
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp mustard seed oil
- 1 pinch fenugreek
- 2 pinches thyme seeds (not leaves)
- 1 pinch hing
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- 2 whole dried red chilies (add 2 more if you like very spicy food)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 inch fresh ginger
- 2 large potatoes (or 3 small)
- 1 large Chinese eggplant (or 2 small)
- 1 sprig cilantro (optional for garnish)
Instructions
Prep
- In a small bowl, combine a large pinch of fenugreek (should be about 10-15 pieces), 2 pinches of thyme seeds, and a pinch of hing.
- In a second small bowl, combine 1 tsp turmeric and 3/4 tsp salt.
- In a third small bowl, combine 1/2 tsp garam masala and 1/2 tsp coriander powder.
- Remove the stems from the chilies but leave the rest of them whole.
- Using a mortar, finely crush 4 cloves of garlic and 1 inch of ginger together. (You can use a small blender if you don't have a mortar)
- Remove the skin from the potatoes and cut them into wedges about the size of a finger. Soak them in cold water for 10 mins. After done, strain the potatoes.
- Cut the Chinese eggplant into wedges about the same length and size as the potato wedges.
Cooking
- In a wok or a large nonstick fry pan, add the mustard oil. Heat the oil on medium high heat.
- Add the fenugreek, thyme seeds, and hing. Let the fenugreek roast (about 40 seconds) until it turns a light brown
- Add the two whole dried chilies. Fry for about 20 seconds. The fenugreek should be a dark brown.
- Add the potatoes wedges (be careful as the oil may spit).
- Add the salt and turmeric and stir until the potatoes are fully coated. Let the potatoes cook for 4 minutes and stir somewhat regularly so they don’t stick to the pan.
- Add the crushed garlic and ginger and stir it in. If the pan looks dry (not enough oil), you can add 1 tbsp of mustard oil.
- Add garam masala and coriander powder. Stir it in.
- Once the garlic/ginger has cooked for 1 minute, add the eggplant. Stir for 1 minute.
- Turn the heat down to low, cover the pan, and cook for 7 minutes. Only open the lid quickly to stir it every couple of minutes.
- After 7 minutes, turn off the heat and let it sit for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Notes
Photos of Nepalese Dry Brinjal Curry cooking
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Michelle Della Giovanna
Writer at Full Time Explorer
I’m just your average New Yorker who quit her job in the fashion industry to explore the world. Come find out what it’s like to trade in five-inch heels for squat toilets.
Your brinjal recipe looks great.Will try making at home for family and friends.
Thank you!! Enjoy!