Today I felt like preparing another variety of kuzhambu, the preparation of which is more or less similar to that of Pulingari. The main base is a mixture of tamarind and coconut and the vegtables used are usually brinjals, ladies fingers, and especially raw bananas, which give it a special flavour and taste. This recipe was handed over by my husband’s grandma and so we fondly call it “patti kozhambu” in our family.
Ingredients:
- 1 or 2 of the above mentioned vegetables – 200 grams, washed and cut into 2″ pieces.
- Tamarind (washed and soaked)- equal to that of a medium sized lemon.
- Coconut gratings – 2 tablespoons or 1/2 cup approximately.
- Thuvar dhal – 1 tablespoon.
- Fenugreek (methi) seeds – 1 teaspoon.
- Red chillies -5 to 6 or according to taste.
- Hing – 1 piece of the size of a pea, or 1/2 tsp if powdered
- Turmeric powder- 1teaspoon.
- Salt – to taste.
- Curry leaves -3 to4 twigs.
For seasoning:
Cooking oil- 2 spoons.
Mustard seeds – 1 Spoon.
Preparation:
- Heat a frying pan and pour 1 spoon of oil and fry ingredients 4 to7, ie Thuvar dhal, methi seeds, hing and chillies,till the dhal and methi seeds turn golden brown emitting a nice flavour. Allow to cool.
- Cook the cut vegetables in a vessel by adding just sufficient quantity of water and the turmeric powder.
- Wet grind the fried ingredients except the coconut gratings with water to a chutney like consistency. Add the coconut gratings, and run the mixer for a few seconds so that the gratings mix well with the other ingredients. Keep aside.
- Extract juice from the Tamarind by adding about 2 cups of water and keep aside.
- When the vegetables are half cooked, add salt and the curry leaves, followed by the ground masala, and finally add the tamarind juice. Stir well to avoid lumps and allow to boil for 2 to3 minutes .
- Heat the frying pan, add the remaining oil and the mustard seeds. When the seeds splutter, add the curry leaves and saute for 1 minute and pour into the boilng liquid. Remove from fire and allow to set before serving.
This goes well with rice. For a traditional taste, coconut oil can be used. The tamarind juice is to be added only in the final stage to retain the special flavour and freshness of the dish.