Eggs cooked in spicy tomato-onion gravy (Egg Kurma)

My mother often tells me that simple ingredients sometimes make an awesome recipe. She says that when we add a lot of spices or ingredients to a dish, we mask the actual flavors of the vegetables or main ingredients in it. I realized the truth behind it only when I started cooking myself. Now I understand that for some recipes, just keep it simple and this is one such recipe.

Ingredients:

Hard boiled eggs – 4 (remove the shell)
Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Tomato – 1 cup (finely chopped)
Green chilli – 4 (slit lengthwise)
Curry leaves – 4 or 5
Garlic cloves – 4 or 5
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds/Jeera – 1 tbsp
Asafoetida/Hing – ½ tsp
Red chilli powder – ½ tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
Kurma masala powder – 1 tbsp (optional, may use garam masala powder instead)
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Thick curd/yogurt – ¼ cup
Dry fenugreek leaves/Kasoori methi – 1 tbsp (crushed)
Salt – to taste
Oil – 2 tbsp
Coriander leaves – to garnish

Procedure:

1. Prick the boiled eggs with a fork and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a deep pan and add a pinch of turmeric powder.
3. Add the eggs and fry them for about 3-5 minutes or until a nice golden crust forms on the eggs on all sides. Remove from pan and place aside.
4. In the same pan add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and asafoetida. Let them splutter.
5. Add the curry leaves, garlic and green chilli and fry for a minute.
6. Add the onions and fry till they turn translucent.
7. Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and kurma masala powder and fry for 2-3 minutes.
8. Add the tomatoes, salt and cover and cook for about 5 minutes.
9. Add some water, yogurt, fried eggs and dry fenugreek leaves. Let it simmer for another 5-8 minutes until thick gravy is formed.
10. Remove from heat, garnish with coriander leaves and serve with plain rice or roti.

Note:

1. You may add some sesame seed powder to the gravy. It gives a different taste to the dish.
2. Instead of yogurt you may also add some fresh cream but that would increase fat levels a bit.

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