Monday 31 December 2012

Tamarind Gravy prepared with Onion




Onion Vathal Kuzhambu

        This is a spicy gravy that is taken well with rice and roasted pappad. This can be made with vegetables like ladies finger ,drumstick, pumpkin, brinjal . This is one of the most wanted and simple dish in south india. If prepared well this will be sought after once more.  

Ingredients:
  • ·         Tamarind                                 small tomato size
  • ·         medium sized onion(sliced) -        1 or 2
  • ·         Gingely oil   -                             3 ½  tsp
  • ·         mustard seeds -                          1 tsp
  • ·         tur dal -                                     1 tsp
  • ·         curry leaves -                              As required
  • ·         sambar powder -                         1 ½ tsp
  • ·         Powdered Jaggery-                       ½ tsp
  • ·         Asafoetida –                               1 pinch
  • ·         Red chilly -                                 1 or 2 nos
  • ·         Turmeric powder –                       ½ tsp
  • ·         Fenu greek seed –                       ½ tsp


Method:

Soak tamarind in 2 cups of warm water for 30 minutes and take the extract from the same.



Heat oil. Add mustard seeds, fenugreek, Tur dal, curry leaves, Red chillies to it.
When Tur dal turns brown, add sliced onion and fry till for 5 minutes till it turns soft.



Add sambar powder to it and fry for 1 minute and then add the Tamarind extract to it and boil for 5 minutes
Now add salt & Jaggery to it and boil it till it becomes thick gravy (approx. 25 – 30 minutes) and Vathal Kuzhambu is ready to be served !

Serve it with rice, ghee (or Gingely oil) and roasted pappad or curry.
P.S :  Vathal Kuzhambu  tastes better with small onion, if you are using vegetables like drumstick or pumpkin, you need not fry it but add it when the gravy is boiling. Vathal kuzhambu is a good side dish for curd rice, it is also served with paruppu Thuvaiyal (Dhal paste) for best results.