Sundaikka Vatral Kuzhambu

 

Sundaikka Vatral Kuzhambu 

Vatha kuzhambu is a south Indian dish served mainly with rice and papad. It has a single vegetable/ vathal as a base and is a simmered stew of tamarind with a set of spices A spicy gravy made with either fresh vegetables or dried vathal.
 

Ingredients
Tamarind 1 small lemon size
Sundai vatral 2 tbsp
Chenna dhal 1 tbsp
Methi seed 1 tsp
Red chili 3 no.
Vatral kuzhambu powder*: 2 tbsp (given below) 
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Hing 1 tsp
Mustard seed 1 tsp
Curry leaves 1 stem
Gingili oil 2 tbsp
Salt as required

• Soak the tamarind in hot water. Make thick extract.
• Heat the oil in kadai, fry mustard seed, red chillies, dhal, and vatral and curry leaves.
• Add turmeric powder, vatral kuzhambu powder and Hing. Fry for few minutes.
• Add tamarind extract, salt and boil for 10 minutes.
• If the vatral kuzhambu consistency is too thin, a spoon of rice flour added with a little water should thicken it up.
• Garnish with curry leaves.
• Serve with Rice, Pappad.

 *Vatral kuzhambu powder: preparation

Ingredients:
Coriander seeds                    - 1 cup

Red chili                                 – 3/4 cup

Toovar dhal                             - ½ cup

Bengal gram                         – ¼ cup

Black Pepper                        – 3 tbsp

Jeera                                      – 1 tbsp

Fenugreek seed                    – 1 tbsp

Turmeric powder                  – 1 tsp

Curry leaves                            - 2 tbsp

 Method:

•  Dry fry all above ingredients (except Jeera and turmeric
  powder separately.
• Grind all with turmeric powder, Jeera very nicely.
• Store it in an airtight container.
• Use this powder to make vatral kuzhambu
• .