Side Dish · Dinner · Sri Lankan · Vegetarian ·

Fragrant Sri Lankan Eggplant Moju with Tamarind and Ginger

Name: Fragrant Sri Lankan Eggplant Moju with Tamarind and Ginger
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Side Dish
Ingredients: 3 medium eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons tamarind paste; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1/4 cup warm water; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 onion, thinly sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 inch fresh ginger, grated; 1 teaspoon mustard seeds; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; 2 teaspoons ground coriander; Fresh cilantro, chopped; 1 red chili, thinly sliced

This delectable Sri Lankan dish combines tender eggplant with spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors, perfect as a side dish or main vegetarian course.

4.9(680 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 15, 2025

Fragrant Sri Lankan Eggplant Moju with Tamarind and Ginger — Side Dish served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Eggplant

For the Marinade

For the Spice Base

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 322 kcal
Protein: 2.5 g
Carbs: 21.25 g
Fat: 27.75 g
Fiber: 5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1288 kcal
Protein: 10 g
Carbs: 85 g
Fat: 111 g
Fiber: 20 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
3 medium eggplants sliced into 1/2-inch rounds	120	5	29	1	14
1/2 cup vegetable oil	960	0	0	109	0
1/2 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons tamarind paste	46	1	11	0	1
1 tablespoon brown sugar	52	0	14	0	0
1/4 cup warm water	0	0	0	0	0
1 tablespoon soy sauce	11	1	1	0	0
1 onion thinly sliced	44	1	10	0	2
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0	2	0	0
1 inch fresh ginger grated	5	0	1	0	0
1 teaspoon mustard seeds	15	1	1	1	1
1 teaspoon ground turmeric	9	0	2	0	1
2 teaspoons ground coriander	10	1	2	0	1
Fresh cilantro chopped	1	0	1	0	0
1 red chili thinly sliced	6	0	1	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Eggplant

1
Prepare Marinade
Mix tamarind paste, brown sugar, warm water, and soy sauce in a bowl.
2
Marinate Eggplant
Submerge eggplant slices in the mixture, ensuring they’re well-coated.
Tip: Press excess marinade out of the eggplant to avoid sogginess.
3
Rest
Let them marinate for 30 minutes.

Preparing the Spice Base

1
Heat Oil and Temper Spices
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
2
Sauté Aromatics
Add onions, garlic, and ginger; sauté until golden.
3
Bloom Spices
Stir in turmeric and coriander, allowing them to bloom for 1 minute.

How to Make Fragrant Sri Lankan Eggplant Moju with Tamarind and Ginger

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Frying the Eggplant
Gently fry marinated eggplant slices in heated oil until golden brown on both sides.
2
Mixing the Base
Combine fried eggplant with the spice base mixture in the pan.
3
Simmering
Simmer the mixture on low heat for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.