This recipe is for making Vatha kuzhambu powder in bulk and ( not a ready mix ) .
Please note this is not like daily sambar podi that we use , as tamrind and other ingredients need to be added at the time of cooking, also this is not a Vatah kuzhambu premix, which is posted elsewhere in this blog . if you want Vatha kuzhambu ready to make with premix powder, click here Vatha Kuzhambu premix
For vatha Kuzhambu paste click here
Ingredients
To prepare Vatta kuzhambu Podi ( take equal measurement of all ingredients except pepper and methi , curry leaves ) or as under. You can use any cup as measurement and use same to measure the dals and chili .
Toor Dhal - 100 gms
chana /Gram Dhal - 100 gms
Urad Dhal - 50 gms ( can skip or rediuce )
Dhaniya - 100 gms
Red Chilly - 100 gms
Pepper - 20 gms
Fenugreek - 10 gms
Curry leaves - handful
Dry roast all the above separately if doing bulk till aromatic, then powder it in mixe and sieve it twice to get a fine powder .if you have access to a commercial mill you can prepare this in bulk , and no need to sieve .
To prepare Vatha Kuzhambhu with this podi
Tamarind - small lemon size, extract juice for 3 cups
V.podi - 2 tsp or as required
Sundakkai - half handful or small manathakkali , or use only methi seeds to prepare a vendaya vatha kuzhambu
Mustard 1 tsp
3 -4 tbsp sesame oil
Fenugreek seeds a pinch/ methi seeds
Salt
Pinch of turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
Method
First fry the sundakkai in hot sesame oil , keep aside, in the same pan add more sesame oil , splutter mustard seeds, add methi seeds, curry leaves , add the vatha kuzhambu podi about 2 tsp in this oil . The raw podi /powder must fry in oil first so be generous with oil .
And fry a bit, then add the tamrind extract about 3 cups , salt, add the fried sundakkai , allow to boil till a thick consistency or as desired . switch off, add more sesame oil on top .
Asafoetida is not added to the v. kuzhambu instead the flavour and aroma of sundakkai and methi seeds must dominate .
A nostalgic, basic Tamil Paruppu Podi recipe from my mother’s handwritten notes from 1995. Just 4 ingredients — toor dal, pepper, red chilli and salt. My go-to comfort meal with hot rice and ghee.