VATHAKKUZHAMBU

This is another Chettinad dish. This goes well as a side dish for idli, dosai, cooked plain rice, etc.

The main ingredients used for this dish are dried berries called sunda vatral and manaththakkaali vatral.

Ingredients 1 :

Sunda vatral (dried turkey berry) - 2 tbsp

Manaththakkaali vatral (dried black night shade berry) - 2 tbsp

Tamarind - 1 lemon size

Onion - 1 medium

Tomato - 1 medium

Garlic - 5 to 6 flakes

Curry leaves - 2 sticks

Dhania powder - 3 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1 1/2 tbsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt - as per taste

Oil - 2 tbsp (preferably use sesame oil)

Ingredient 2 :

Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

Urad dal - 1/2 tsp

Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp

Bengal Gram - 1/2 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp

Procedure:

1. Heat little oil in a pan and fry both vatrals and keep aside.

2. Now, in another pan, heat oil and put all the ingredient 2 items and allow them to splatter.

3. Now, add curry leaves, chopped onion and saute till onion turns transparent.

4. Add the chopped garlic, saute well and then add chopped tomato. Add little salt and saute till the tomato is mashed.

5. Now, put all the masala powders and saute. At this stage, add the tamarind paste.

6. Add the fried vatrals and required water . Allow it to boil.

Kuzhambu is ready to serve.

Variation : Split hard boiled eggs can be added to this recipe, when it is boiling. After adding the eggs, turn off the stove. This recipe is contributed by Mrs. Meena Sevugan, Albany,NY

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