Brinjal & BitterGuard Sambar

Ingredients

Bitterguard - 1 (small)

Brinjal - 2 (medium)

Tomatoes - 6 (medium)

Big Onions - 2

Chilli - 2

Garlic - 5-6 pieces

Ginger - 1 piece

Coconut pieces - a small cup

Tamarind - a small quantity

Chilli powder,turmeric powder,sambar powder,salt - acc. to taste

Curry leaves,oil

Method:

Preparing the Bitterguard: To cut a bitter guard, slice it lengthwise, scoop and scrap the inner white pulp, leaving only the outer green parts.Then, cut the bitter guard thickly.Put these pieces in a bowl and soak them with enough water.Add a pinch of salt and let it cook for 5 mins.Once it is half-cooked,remove from the stove and filter the juice.Gulp the bitterguard juice for its medicinal virtues.

Grind the coconut pieces,tamarind,garlic and ginger into a coarse paste.Chop the brinjals,tomatoes,onions,chillies and keep them ready.Put the tomatoes in the mixie jar and give it a single quick grind.Now lets start the real cooking.Fry mustard seeds in oil.Suate onion,chilli,curry leaves till golden brown.Add the chopped brinjals and cook them for 5-7 mins.Add some salt and all the curry powders to it(turmeric,sambar and chilli powder) and stir for a while.Wondering what happened to the cooked bitterguard? this is the right time to put them into the kadai.Add the grated coconut & tomato mixture.Let the mixture cook for a while.Add salt according to taste and serve.

Goes well with : White Rice,Dosa,Idli