Vatha Kuzhambu

Vatha Kuzhambu - South Indian dish of dried vegetable gravy. It is spicy in taste due to use of tamarind and sambar powder. You can use other vegetables like brinjals, ladies finger, broad beans also to make this dish.

Recipe Ingredients

* Dried Salted Vegetables - A handful
(e.g dried cluster beans,
or berries or aubergines)
* Tamarind (Imli)lemon sized - 1
* Refined Oil - 5 tsp
* Fenugreek Seeds - 1/2 tsp
* Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
* Split Red Gram - 1/2 tsp
* Dry Red Chillies - 2
* Asafoetida (hing) - A Pinch
* Curry Leaves - 4
* Sambar Powder (Readily available in shops) - 2 tsp
* Rice Powder, dissolved in 2 tsp water - 1 tsp
* Salt to taste

Preparation

First soak tamarind in 1 cup of water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then extract the tamarind juice.

Heat oil in a cooking pan, add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, split red gram, dry red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves. When the seeds start spluttering, add the dried salted vegetables and Sambar Powder. Continue frying till the mixture turns reddish in colour.

Add the tamarind extract, salt and some more water to make up about 3 cups of gravy. Bring the mixture to the boil till it is reduced to 2 cups.

Add the rice powder paste and boil further for a minute. Remove and serve hot with steamed rice and roasted papad.

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Vatha Kuzhambu to South Indian Recipes