Late Night Love Feast- Part 1: Curry me Crazy!!!!

Being a full blown culinary junky is a full time job! I spend 1/2 my time plotting my next culinary outing and the other 1/2 getting my fix. Trying to fit this all in can be a job unto its self. I do love living in NY for a bunch of reasons but i think on the top of that list is LATE NIGHT DINING!!!! When i get the late night yen for a select cuisine, i am in luck living in this hub of culinary love. I crave lots of foods but i think the one that comes up the most is Indian Food. OMG just typing these words and i can smell the cardamon and cinnamon in the depths of my scratch and sniff brain. India food has had a very special place in my heart for a long time. I am obsessed with Indian culture and at the heart of any culture is its food.

Growing up in a mostly white bread neighborhood you have cookie cutter thoughts of thing. For example i always associated cinnamon with apple pie. I think allot of people do, but there is more to cinnamon then the American box we put it in.

I can remember the first time i had good Indian Food. I was at Curry In A Hurry on 27th and Lex. I have had indian before, but nothing like this. My earlier Indian experiences where not very adventures and all revolved around chicken tikka masala or some basic curry chicken. I now had a smorgasbord of items laid out in front of me for my visual and aromatic pleasure. I remember being drawn to the Okra in a light tomato broth with bobbing cinnamon sticks and the curry eggplant. This was not grandmothers eggplant parm this was a whole new game.... So as i crawled out of my white bread cave i became obsessed with the new light these old ingredients took on in this Mecca of curry love.

It took me time to understand the flavors the indian pallet presents. My mind goes right back to eggplant and cinnamon, WOW who knew??? Apparently my Indian friends knew.

I spent several night trying to recreate the food that i devoured at CIH, and after a long time fixing and tweaking i think i may have come very close to the eggplant that i adore.

OH before i give you the recipe let me get back to the point of the story. CIH is open until 3 Am so you can have great food all night long YMMM YMMM YMMMM. And also let me say, i think my eggplant is great but is no replacement for CIH's eggplant just a pacifier for my addiction. The food is killer and the people are great. I love to sit by the window, chow down and watch traffic. Also its packed with people of Indian decent so you know the food is on point!!!

TTFN

MVP :)

Curried Eggplant

This is one of my favorite dishes, it tastes great and puts the warmth in your bones on a cold winter day. I like to think that some dishes have the ability to transport you to another place, and this one does the trick. One bite of this curry and you'll find yourself in the streets of Delhi, or at least at some Indian restaurant on 28^th and Lexington. I serve this with basmati rice, naan and a side of love. 

Whole eggplant – 1

Cloves garlic – 4

Small white onion – 1

Vegetable oil – 3 tablespoons

Whole cinnamon stick – 1

Ground cumin – ½ teaspoon

Ground Turmeric ½ teaspoon

Curry powder – 2 teaspoons

Whole potatoes - 2

Tomato juice – 36 ouncesChopped parsley for garnish

Steam the two potatoes until done, let cool. Peel the skin and dice potato. Dice the eggplant into ½ inch cubes, then soak in cold water for 1 hour. Peel and dice the onion and garlic. In a medium pot sauté the garlic and onion in the oil for 5 minutes. Add all your spices and sauté for one minute. Add the eggplant, potatoes and tomato juice. Cover and cook at a simmer for 45 minutes or until the eggplant is tender. Season w/ S&P. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve. You can serve it over plain rice or basmati rice. Garnish with chopped parsley.