Eggplant Potato Curry Recipe
Updated: August 25, 2023, By Swasthi
Make this delicious South Indian Eggplant Potato Curry under 35 mins. If you agree that eggplants and potatoes are a match made in the heaven, you will fall in love with this super flavorful curry. Starchy potatoes along with pulpy eggplants are cooked in a spicy aromatic curry base so they soak up the best flavors.
Eggplants also known as brinjal is a veggie that’s available in many different varieties. Globe or American eggplants (same as bharta baingan), Indian eggplants, Italian eggplants and Chinese eggplants are some commonly available kind.
While each variety imparts a different flavor and are used in specific dishes, you are still free to use your favorite kind in any dish.
Traditionally for an Indian curried dish, Indian eggplants are used because they have a thinner skin and breakdown easily in the curry.
Unlike the globe eggplants these don’t have a thicker skin or taste bitter. However feel free to use what you have on hand like the way I used.
In Indian Cuisine we make many different kinds of eggplant curries. Andhra Gutti vankaya, Bharwa baingan, Bagara baingan, Brinjal stir fry & Aloo baingan are some of the popular dishes.
About Eggplant Potato Curry
This Eggplant potato curry is made in South Indian style with pantry staples like onions, tomatoes, brinjal, potatoes, whole and ground spices. It is vegan and gluten-free.
Curry leaves and coconut milk are used for the South Indian touch and flavors but you may leave them out or substitute coconut milk with yogurt or even plain milk.
A lot of South Indian homes, especially in Telugu-speaking homes milk is used in curry recipes to impart a unique flavor.
The milk splits as it cooks and the whey is soaked up the veggies. The milk solids are visibly left in the curry which enhance the taste. So don’t be afraid to use dairy in this recipe.
Photo Guide
How to make Eggplant Potato Curry (Stepwise Photos)
Preparation
1. Prepare the following veggies:
- 1¼ cup onions fine chopped
- 1½ cup tomatoes fine chopped (deseed if needed or pureed)
- 1 to 2 green chili slit or chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon garlic chopped or ginger garlic paste
- 1 to 2 sprigs curry leaves
2. You will also need these spices:
- ⅓ teaspoon mustard seeds (optional)
- ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 to 1¼ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 to 1½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
3. Rinse 450 grams (1 lb.) potatoes and 450 grams (1 lb.) eggplants. Peel the potatoes and dice them to 1 by ¾ inch pieces. Add them to a bowl of water. To another bowl add ¼ teaspoon salt and pour water. Dice the eggplants to 2 inch pieces and add them & immerse into the bowl of salted water.
Make the Curry
4. Pour 3 tablespoons oil to a pan and add the mustard and cumin seeds. When they begin to sizzle, add the curry leaves.
5. Add chopped onions and stir fry on a medium heat until golden. Add the garlic or ginger garlic and green chili. Saute for a minute.
6. Add the tomatoes and cook until they soften and turn mushy.
7. Stir in the red chili powder, turmeric, salt and half of the garam masala.
8. Remove the potatoes from water and add them to the pan. Saute for 2 to 3 mins.
9. Remove the eggplants from water and add them here. Mix well and stir fry on a medium high to high heat for 2 to 3 mins, until aromatic. Do not burn.
10. You should smell the masala very aromatic after a few minutes, pour 1 cup hot water.
11. Mix well and cook covered on a medium heat until the potatoes are fully cooked. If required you may add more hot water. Do not stir a lot as it cooks, that will break down the eggplants completely. Also do not add too much water at one time unless you want the eggplants to be disintegrated completely.
12. Add coconut milk (optional) and the rest of the garam masala. Increase the heat to medium high. Give a gentle stir and let cook until the milk is absorbed. If you want the curry to have more sauce, simply add more hot water and simmer for a while.
13. Taste test and adjust more salt.
Squeeze some lemon juice while serving. Serve Eggplant Potato Curry with rice, roti or breads.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Eggplant Potato Curry Recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 450 grams (1 lb.) potatoes
- 450 grams (1 lb.) eggplants
- 1¼ cup onions fine chopped
- 1½ cup tomatoes fine chopped (deseed if needed or pureed)
- 1 tablespoon garlic chopped or ginger garlic paste
- 1 to 2 green chili slit or chopped (optional)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- ⅓ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 to 2 sprig curry leaves
- 1 to 1¼ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 to 1½ teaspoon garam masala (adjust to taste, divided)
- ¾ to 1¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste, divided)
- 1 to 1½ cup water (use only as required)
- ½ cup coconut milk (optional)
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice to serve
- 2 to 3 tablespoons coriander leaves chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes to 1 by ¾ inch pieces. Add them to a bowl of water to prevent discoloring.
- Dice eggplants to 2 inch pieces. Add them to a bowl of water and add ¼ teaspoon salt.
How to Make Eggplant Potato Curry
- Heat a pan with oil. Add mustard, cumin seeds and curry leaves. When they begin to splutter, add onions and saute on a medium heat until golden.
- Add garlic and green chili. Saute for another 1 to 2 mins. Stir in the tomatoes and cook covered until soft and mushy.
- Stir in the spices – red chili powder, turmeric, salt and half of the garam masala.
- Remove the Potatoes from water and add them to the pan. Stir fry for 2 to 3 mins.
- Remove the eggplants from water and add them to the pan. Increase the heat and stir fry for 3 mins until you smell the masala aromatic.
- While you stir fry, heat water in a small pot and pour that to the eggplant and potatoes. Start with 1 cup hot water.
- Mix well and cook covered until the potatoes are fully cooked. As you cook if the pan dries up you may add more hot water. Avoid stirring the curry a lot as the eggplants will disintegrate to a mush.
- If you want you may stir in the coconut milk. If you want a saucier dish, you may pour more hot water & cook a little longer.
- Taste test and add more salt and the rest of the garam masala if required.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and squeeze some lemon juice while serving. Serve Eggplant Potato Curry with chapati, rice or roti.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
Need to indicate when to add in the optional green chili – no mention of that in the directions.
Thank you! I have updated it
Your recipes are delicious! Followed the recipe exactly and added a cup of frozen peas. Came out good.
Thanks Mamta
Thank you so much. Life is so much better with your help.
So happy to read that Caroline!
Love all your recipes 🙂 if using peas when to add them ? Should I cook them before just like you have mentioned for potatoes ?
Thanks Ranjini
If using frozen tender peas then just add them directly. If using fresh peas then boil them until slightly tender and add.
You’re becoming my go-to webpage almost everyday!! Since I’m an Oriya newly married to a Tamilian, i have to make a dish that relates and pleases both of our palates.. And you have always done that with your recipes 🙂 Love the simple and clear steps.. quick and easy to instantly follow even while I’m near the gas stove!
Keep blogging and saving us newbies from disasters! 😀
Hi Vineeta
Glad to know you. Thanks for trying the recipes. I am very glad to know they have been useful. Thanks again
🙂
me vantalu chala chala super
Thanks Padma garu
yum! just loved it
Yummy & lipsmacking recipe.. Can have that with sambar rice 🙂
looks beautiful.perfect for sambar rice.
Wow looks terrific… Drooling here
looks delicious, love it 🙂
I love brinjals and this recipe looks simple and yum
wow yummy combo,sure it taste awesome…
delicious and awesome curry.
looking delicious sis
Easy eggplant potato dry curry. Yummy and delcicios.