Vatral Kuzhambu : Tamil Cuisine

vatral Kuzhambu .. hmm ...

A hot spicy kuzhambu made with dried vegetables ...

It is best when had the next day ... I guess the spices get really comfortable

with each other during that time :-) ...

So whats new with this vatral kuzhambu .. I used dalia to make the kuzhambu powder...

It came out extremely yummilicious.....

This is my entry for RC1 TamilCuisine Event hosted by Lakshmi

Ingredients:

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Split gram dal - 1/2 tsp
Black Pepper Corns - 6
Dried Red Chilly - 5
Curry Leaves - a spring
hing - a pinch
Onions - 2 medium sliced thinly to 1 inch length
Tomato - 2 ( 6 tsp if using puree )
vatral of your choice - i used kothavangai vathal , few
Tamarind water - lemon sized ball dissolved in 2 cups warm water
Brinjal - 2 , cut to 4 pieces. ( can use okra or tindora instead )
Sonf - 1/2 tsp
garlic paste - 1/4 tsp
Garlic - 4 pods , each sliced to 3 pieces
Rice powder - 1/2 tsp dissolved in water
Gingelly oil - 1 tbs
Oil of your choice

Spice Paste:

Chilly Pwdr - 1 tsp
Corriander pwdr - 3 tsp
Mix the above , add enough water to make a paste

Spice powder:

Roasted channa dal - 1 tsp
Roasted split gram dal - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
Sonf - 1 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp
Split Dalia - 1 tsp
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 1/2 inch piece

Grind to a fine powder.
Add a tsp of vinegar and mix well.

Method:

1) heat oil , splutter mustard seeds , split dal . Add curry leaves , red chilly , hing.

Ading red chilly to the oil gives the kuzhambu a pungent smell....
2) Add vathal.saute onions till light brown. Add garlic paste , spice powder. Saute for 3 minutes.
3) Add spice paste. Saute till there is no raw smell.
4) Add tomato , salt . Mix and cook covered for few minutes.
5) When oil comes on top add brinjal , gingelly oil ,tamarind water , sonf , few curry leaves.
6) Cook covered for 15 minutes.
7) Add garlic , rice powder mix and cook till desired consistency is reached.