Kathirikkai Kosthu/Kothsu

Kathirikkai Kosthu or Kothsu,this side dish is very famous in Chidambaram, Mayavaram and also in Tanjore district, its a special dish in certain communites around Tanjore district..Its a tangy n spicy side dish made with brinjal n tamarind paste. Very good side dish with dosais, Idlies..This is one of my grandma's signature dish..There are various way to prepare this delicious kosthu, which is one of the traditional tamilian side dish for their morning breakfast, this is how my grandma, my mom used to prepare..

1+1/2cups Brinjal pieces
1no Tamarind (berry size)
1no Onion(chopped)
1/4tsp Mustard seed
1/2 tsp Urad dal
1/2tsp Channa dal
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
2 tsp Oil
3 nos Curry leaves
2tbsp Cilantro leaves(chopped

To Grind:

3 nos Red chilli
2 tsp Coriander seeds
1tsp Moong dal
2tbsp Grated coconut

Cook the brinjal pieces in pressure cooker r in a pan with 1/4 cup of water if its in pressure cooker, else add little more water if u r cooking them in pan, until they cook well..grind them without extracting the water in food processor coarsely..keep aside. Grind all the ingredients under the list 'To grind' into a coarse powder..

Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds, channa dal n urad dal, let them splutters..saute the onions until it turns transculent..extract the tamarind juice from the tamarind and keep aside.. once the onions r transculent add the tamarind juice and turmeric powder,let them boil until the raw smell disappears,add the brinjal puree n roasted spices to the tamarind mix..keep the flame in simmer once u add brinjal puree, add salt, curry leaves and cilantro leaves, stir them occasionally...Kathirikkai kosthu shouldnt be neither like sambar n nor like chutney..dont cook a long they may turn easily as chutney, so that its will tastes sour..

Delicious Brinjal Kothsu is ready!

Am sending this traditional side dish to South Indies by Deesha of Vegetable Platter, she is asking all her blogger friends to send south indian dishes where she is going to showcasing recipes from 4 Southern States...