Huiy Barhi Riha

Maldivian spicy eggplant

Ingredients

 * 500 gm aubergine (in south Asia this is called brinjal, except in the Maldives and minicoy where it is called barhi)
 * 1 onion
 * 8 garlic cloves
 * 1 tbsp dalda (hydrogenated vegetable oil) or clarified butter
 * 1¼ cm ginger
 * 2 curry leaves
 * 2 cardamom pods
 * 1 tbsp chilli powder
 * 1 piece cinnamon
 * salt to taste
 * 1 cup coconut milk
 * 1 tsp sugar
 * ¼ cup tamarind juice

Directions

 * 1) Cut aubergine length wise into quarters and fry it in oil till the skin turns brown.
 * 2) Then fry chopped onion in dalda.
 * 3) When it becomes slightly brown add crushed garlic, ginger, cinnamon and chilli powder.
 * 4) Fry it till it becomes brown in colour.
 * 5) Then add tamarind juice, salt, sugar, curry leaves, coconut milk and fried aubergine and cook it in slow a fire for a few minutes till the gravy becomes thick.