Vattal kuzhambun paste
A very popular recipe from South India particularly Tamil nadu cuisine is the Vattal Kuzhambu, /Vattazh Kuzhambu , a deeply reduced aromatic tamrind sauce spiced with the Indian spices like cumin, fenugreek, red chillies.
And the star of the dish is the Sundakkai or the Manathakkali dried seeds , used to roast and simmer in the broth.
It lends a particularly sour, tangy spicy taste which is a great appetiser also. Even a sick person will not refuse a ladle of this sauce with plain rice and a dry roasted papad will suffice to satisfy the soul!.
Yes Soul food , that’s what it is!!
Ingredients to make the vatha kozhambu powder
1/3 cup coriander seeds
2 tbsp chana dal
2 tbsp toor dal
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp udad dal
1/2 tsp asafoetida powder
red chillies
1 tsp methi seeds
Method
Roast all above on a low heat , till fragrant , powder to a smooth texture .
Store this for making delicious Vatha kozhambu or even for making flavorsome curries .
To make the vatha kozhambu paste for making instant Vatha kozhambu
Ingredients
1 small orange size tamrind ,
extract juice to make 4-5 cups of tamrind water
1/4 cup gingelly oil
1tsp mustard seeds
2 tbsp dried black nightshade ( Manathakaali )
1 tsp cumin seeds
asafoetida powder
some broken red chillies
1 tsp methi seeds
1 tbsp toor dal
some curry leaves
salt as needed
a pinch of jaggery about a tsp check video for method
Vattal kuzhambu rice
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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.