🍛 Goan Brinjal Masala | Spicy and Flavorful Eggplant Curry Recipe

📝 About the Recipe

This Brinjal Masala is a flavorful, spicy dish made using a roasted coconut-based masala — a staple in Goan cooking. Brinjal, also known as eggplant, is easily available and pairs beautifully with Indian spices. This recipe is ideal as a main course, and tastes delicious with rice, roti, or chapati.

📌 Servings: 3
⏱️ Cooking Time: 15–30 minutes
👩‍🍳 Author: Puja Raghuvir Naik

 🧂 Ingredients

• Brinjal (eggplant) – cut into pieces
• 1 small onion – sliced
• ½ tomato – chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ capsicum – chopped
• Grated coconut – approx. 3 tbsp
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp khus-khus (poppy seeds)
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 small tamarind ball (or 1 tsp tamarind paste)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1–2 tsp oil

🍳 Method

1. Prepare the Brinjal

• Cut the brinjal into medium-sized pieces.
• Apply salt and shallow fry in a pan until golden and soft. Set aside.

2. Roast the Masala

• In a pan, heat 1 tsp oil.
• Add chopped onion and garlic, sauté till golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
• In the same pan, add khus-khus and grated coconut, fry until the coconut turns golden.

3. Grind the Masala

• Blend the sautéed onion, garlic, coconut, chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cinnamon, and tamarind to a smooth paste. Add a little water if needed.

4. Make the Curry

• Heat 1 tsp oil in a kadai.
• Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, let them splutter.
• Add chopped capsicum, sauté for 2 minutes.
• Add tomato and cook till soft and mashed.
• Pour in the ground masala paste, stir well and let it boil for 2 minutes.

5. Add Brinjal & Cook

• Add the shallow-fried brinjal pieces to the curry.
• Add salt to taste and garam masala.
• Mix well and let the curry simmer until the brinjal absorbs all the flavors and is cooked through.

🍲 Try our Goan Mushroom Masala Curry
🌿 Love aromatic curries? Also check out Methi Bhaji

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Serve hot with steamed rice, roti, or chapati.
• Tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen!

🧡 Pro Tips

• Use tender brinjal for best texture.
• For added richness, you can drizzle a bit of coconut milk at the end.
• Adjust chili powder to your spice preference

💬 Have you made this eggplant curry? Share your variation or plumping tips in the comments below!
📌 Enjoyed this recipe? Pin it to your Vegetarian Indian Curries board on Pinterest!