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