Dim (Egg) Curry

I haven't seen this dish in many other cuisines, but boiled egg is a big favorite in Bengali dishes. I've always loved how the oil and spices complement the egg white. This is the first recipe I've tried with boiled egg, and the people I fed it to last night loved it, but I'm still looking for more recipes because it was a little different from what we usually have at home. Maybe I'll just ask my mom :)

Dim Curry (Egg Curry)

Ingredients:

6 hard boiled eggs

5 tbsp vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil

2 medium sized onion cut into quarters

3 medium sized tomatoes cut into quarters

2 green chillies

2 tsp garlic paste

2 tsp ginger paste

2 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Chopped fresh coriander leaves to garnish

2 potatoes cut into 1" cubes (optional)

Directions:

Heat 2 tbsps of the cooking oil in a deep pan and when hot, add the onions. Fry till slightly golden. Turn off the fire. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the pan and put them in a food processor. Grind the onions, tomatoes, green chillies into a smooth paste. Try not to add water while grinding, if possible.

Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and add the paste you just made to it when it is hot. Fry for 2-3 minutes.

Add the ginger and garlic pastes, all the dry spices, mix and fry till the oil begins to separate from the masala (onion-tomato-spice mix).

Now add 2 cups of warm water to this masala and bring to a boil on a medium flame.

If adding potatoes to the curry, add them now and cook till half done.

Half slit the boiled eggs vertically and add them gently to the gravy. Simmer the flame and cook for 10 minutes or till the gravy is thickened/ reduced to about 3/4 of the original quantity (when you added the water). If you have added potatoes they should ideally be cooked by now.

Turn off the fire and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice and a vegetable side dish.