Surati eggs gotalo (modified version of scrambled eggs) - serves 2

Surati eggs gotalo

This recipe is another version of scrambled egg. However, its a little bit more complicated than simple scrambled eggs. This is the original and authentic recipe coming directly from the owner of an egg stall in Surat, Gujarat (India). Since I frequented this place during my college, I've an emotional attachment with this recipe.

Ingredients:

Eggs - 6 (3 for boiling and 3 for half-frying)
Oil - 2 tbsp (1 for frying eggs and 1 for later use)
Butter - 1 tbsp
For paste - Garlic - 3 pods, Ginger - 1" piece, Green chili - 1
Salt - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Powder spices - turmeric - 1 tsp, red chili powder - 1 tsp, cumin-coriander powder - 2 tsp, garam masala - 1 tsp
Tomatoes - 2 chopped
Water - 1/2 cup
Chopped cilantro - about 2 tbsp

Recipe:

Step 1 - Preparation: This is important so as to avoid any rush while cooking.
Boil 3 eggs - these boiled eggs are used to shred over curry in step 3;
Make a paste from ginger, garlic and green chili (GGG paste);
Put all the powder spices in a small bowl;
Finely chop tomatoes and put it in a bowl; add water to chopped tomatoes;

Step 2 - Making eggs 'half-fry': Heat 1 tbsp oil on a medium heat in a non-stick pan. Once heated, gently crack open the eggs into pan (be gently enough to avoid breaking yolk). Evenly spread half of ginger-garlic-green chili (GGG) paste on the top of each of 3 eggs. Sprinkle 1/2 tbsp salt and half of the powder spices over eggs. With a spoon, collect some oil from the side of pan and drizzle it over eggs to fry GGG paste and spices. Now add 1 tbsp chopped coriander on top of eggs. Your half fry is ready when egg white becomes opaque white in color (roughly 10 minutes). Slide over these eggs 'half-fry' into another plate.

Step 3 - Making curry for gotado: Heat butter and remaining 1 tbsp oil on a medium heat in the same pan used to make half-fry. Once butter melts, add rest of GGG paste and sauté for about a minute. Now add chopped tomatoes (without water, use water for later) and mix well. Let tomatoes cook for about 5 minutes (till it gets soft and mushy). Keep stirring in between. Crush tomatoes with spatula after it becomes soft. Now add 1 tbsp salt and remaining powder spices. Fry spices for couple of minutes. Now add water (in which tomatoes were kept) to it. Mix well and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Now shred boiled eggs over curry with a shredder and mix well. Add cilantro and simmer for additional 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Step 4 - Making gotado: Pour curry onto a flat bottomed bowl. Put egg-half-fry on the top of curry and mix everything together using two spatulas. Use your spatulas imagining as if using a knife to chop onions.

Serve with toasted buns or bread.

Enjoy!

Note:

1. Health tip - Since it is a very rich dish, discard 2 eggs yolks from boiled eggs to cut down your cholesterol intake. You may discard it altogether but I think using one egg yolk gives a good texture to this recipe.

2. Since this recipe is very fast paced, I would suggest to prepare all ingredients beforehand in order to avoid rush while cooking.