Name: South Indian egg curry with rice & lentil pilau
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 4 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 ½ tsp mustard seeds; 1 ½ tbsp curry leaf; 2 large red onions chopped; 50g ginger peeled and finely chopped; 1 tsp turmeric; ½ tsp chilli powder; 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 1-2 tsp sugar; 8 eggs; small bunch coriander chopped; 250g basmati rice; 140g split red lentil; 4 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 onions sliced; 50g ginger peeled and finely chopped; 3 whole green chillies deseeded; 2 bay leaves; mango chutney, natural yogurt and naan bread (optional), to serve

South Indian egg curry with rice & lentil pilau

For the egg curry

4 tbsp vegetable oil
1 ½ tsp mustard seeds
1 ½ tbsp curry leaf
2 large red onions
chopped
50g ginger
peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp chilli powder
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1-2 tsp sugar
8 eggs
small bunch coriander
chopped

For the rice and lentils

250g basmati rice
140g split red lentil
4 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions
sliced
50g ginger
peeled and finely chopped
3 whole green chillies
deseeded
2 bay leaves
mango chutney, natural yogurt and naan bread
(optional), to serve

Method

step 1
Mix the rice and lentils in a bowl. Cover with cold water and soak for 15 mins.
step 2
Meanwhile, for the curry, heat the oil in a wok or medium saucepan, then toss in the mustard seeds followed by the curry leaves. Once the leaves have stopped spluttering, reduce the heat and add the onions and ginger. Fry over a medium heat for about 10 mins until golden.
step 3
Stir in the turmeric and chilli powder and cook for a few more secs. Tip in the tomatoes and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 mins until thickened, adding a splash of water if needed. Meanwhile, boil the eggs for 8 mins, then cool under cold running water before peeling and halving. Add to the curry and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
step 4
To cook the pilau, heat the oil in a pan and cook the onions, ginger and chillies until softened – about 10 mins. Drain the rice and lentils and add to the onions along with the bay leaves.
step 5
Pour over enough water to cover the rice and lentils by a depth of 3cm – about 600ml. Simmer, uncovered, until tender and the cooking liquid has been absorbed.
step 6
Stir the coriander into the curry and fluff up the rice. Serve with mango chutney, yogurt and naan, if you like.