Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons ground coriander
2. 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground in a spice mill or mortar
3. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4. 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
5. 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6. 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
7. 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
8. 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
9. 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
10. Water
11. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
12. 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
13. 10 curry leaves or 2 bay leaves
14. 1 dried red chile
15. 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
16. 1 teaspoon salt
17. 1 cup chopped tomatoes
18. 1/4 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
19. 8 extra-large eggs, hard-cooked and peeled

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the coriander, fennel, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom with 1/3 cup of water to make a paste.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, warm the oil over moderately high heat and add the mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, add the curry leaves and dried red chile and cover. After most of the seeds have popped, uncover, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the spice paste and salt and cook over moderate heat for 5 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of water if the pan is dry. Add the tomatoes and 3/4 cup of water and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are soft and the sauce is thick. Add the coconut milk and eggs, spooning the sauce over the eggs. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat until the eggs are heated through. Serve at once.

Serve With

Pal Appam

Notes

The mild heat that the mustard and chiles give to this egg dish needs a not-quite-dry white for contrast. Try Chenin Blanc­based wines, such as the 1996 Hogue Cellars from Washington State or the 1995 Gaston Huet Le Mont Sec Vouvray from France.