Eggplant Stir Fry (Wambatu Moju)

Eggplant is a special vegitable for me because it gives a great combination with all the food. In Sri Lankan we call Eggplant "Wam Batu". There are so many recipes to make Eggplant , i make fried Eggplant  salad in coconut milk... this vegetable is so versatile.

Ingredients:

• 3 Small Eggplants.
• 1 Tomato Chopped
• 1 Onion Chopped.
• 1 1/2 tsp of Red Chillie Flakes.
• 1/3 tsp Turmaric
• Salt.
• Curry Leaves. (Optional)
• 3 Tablsp pf Oil.

Method:

Slice the Eggplants thinly lengthwise, add 1/2 tsp of turmaric and 1/2 tsp of salt and deep fry until golden. (Keep aside). Heat the oil and add curry leaves and onions. Add the chillie flakes,turmaric,chopped tomatoes and salt. Stir it all up and cook on a very low flame with the lid on. After a few minutes see weather the onions have cooked, and add the fried eggplants and mix gently. Now turn on the flame a bit and and toss untill the eggplant gets coated with all the spicey gravy for 5 minutes. Remove from flame and its ready to serve. Its realy good with Chapathis and Rice. I served it with rice. Enjoy!

Pumpkin in Coconut Milk

This the usual way the Sri Lankans cook most of the vegetabke, in coconut milk.
I realy love the creamy rich tase of the coconut milk and the flavour of the vegetable.

Ingredients:

• Half of a Small Pumpkin.
• 1/2 Cup Thick Coconut Milk.
• 1 Small Onion Chopped.
• 1 Tabl Sp Minced Garlic Paste.
• 2 Green Chilies.
• Half of a Small Tomato.
• 1 Stick Cinnamon.
• 1/2 tsp of Turmeric.
• 1/3 tsp of Black Pepper.
• Salt.
• 3-4 Drops of Lime Juice
• Curry Leaves and Pandan Leaves (Optional).
• 2 Tabsp of Oil.

Method:

Heat the oil in a vessel. Add curry leaves, pandan leaves, cinnamon stick and minced garlic. Once the garlic starts to get brown, add the onions and chillie. Add the Pumkin pieces once the onion is cooked. Put the chopped tomatoes in, add salt, turmaric,black pepper and a 1/2 cup of water and let it cook with the lid on.after the pimkin is cooked and soft, add the coconut milk and once it boils and thickens, remove from flame and add a few drops of lime juice. Serve hot with Rice.

String Hoppers with Coconut Sambol

We all love string hoppers, and Friday is a day we have string hoppers for breakfast. Its very common in Sri Lanka, for breakfast and dinner, there are different varieties in string hoppers Made with  Wheat flour, Red rice flour and white rice flour. Our choice is white rice flour. There is a special tool to squeeze the dough with. My mom bough me one when she visited me last time. Its all worth it for me. :P

Ingredients for Coconut Sambol:

• 1 Cup Freshly Scraped Coconut.
• 2 Chopped Green Chillies.
• 1 Small Onions.
• 1 1/2 Tsp Dried Chillie Flakes.
• Lime Juice.
• Salt.

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients together with the hand till the coconut absorbs all the flavours.

Pound it a few times if you have a grinding bowl.

Coconut Sambol is ready to be served!. This goes with bread and any kind of roti