Brinjal Gotsu (side dish with Ven Pongal) from Tamil Nadu.

Contributed by Sharmila Shanmugasundaram

Ven Pongal can taste bland without a spicy kick. So, to make it extra special a spicy gravy is needed as a side dish. This Brinjal Gotsu is the perfect pair for Ven Pongal.

Ingredients

1. Split gram roasted chana dal - 1/4 Cup
2. Water - 2 + 1 1/2 Cups
3. Onion - 1 small (finely chopped)
4. Tomato - 1 small (finely chopped)
5. Green chilli - 1 (slit)
6. Brinjal - 2 medium (chopped into 1/4 inch cubes)
7. Jaggery powder
8. Salt - 1 tsp (adjust per taste)
9. Turmeric powder
10. Tamarind paste

Ingredients for Tempering

1. Oil - 1 tsp
2. Mustard - 1/4 tsp
3. Broken urad dal - 1/2 tsp
4. Jeera - 1/2 tsp
5. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
6. Asafoetida - 1/8 tsp
7. Dry red chilli - 2

Procedure

1. Add all the ingredients together and pressure cook
2. Wait for the steam to settle and open cooker
3. Add the tempering.

Serves well as a side dish with Idlis as well.