Kathirikai Rasavangi, or Brinjal Rasavangi, is a flavorful South Indian dish featuring brinjals (eggplants) and thuvar dal (pigeon peas). To prepare this dish, start by washing and pressure cooking the thuvar dal until soft. Cut the brinjals lengthwise and soak tamarind in water to extract juice. In a kadai, heat oil and fry red chillies, coriander seeds, and bengal gram dal, followed by coconut gratings until light brown. Cool this mixture and grind it coarsely.
In a thick-bottomed kadai, heat more oil, adding mustard seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves until fragrant. Sauté the brinjal pieces briefly, then stir in the tamarind water, turmeric powder, and salt, allowing the mixture to boil until the brinjal is tender. Incorporate the cooked thuvar dal, adding water if the gravy is too thick, and let it boil again. Finally, reduce the heat, sprinkle the coarsely ground spice blend, give a quick stir, and serve hot. This dish pairs well with rice or roti.
Rasavangi is in between sambar and kootu and more or less similar to “Araithuvitta Kuzhambu“. This gravy goes well with steamed hot rice with papad or potato curry.
