Vathakuzhambu

Vathakuzhambu is a South Indian spicy gravy prepared with tamarind extract and fresh vegetables or dried vathal or fryums. The blend of various spices brings a nice flavor to the dish. Vathakuzhambu and sutta appalam (fried papad) or paruppu thuvayal is the best combination to eat. Here you go…

Ingredients:

• Small Onion – 1 cup
• Cut Drumstick – 5 0r 6
• Dry red chillies – 5
• Whole tamarind – 2 tbsp
• Gingelly oil – 2 tbsp
• Curry leaves – a few
• Sambar powder – 2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder – a pinch
• Asafoetida – 1/4 tsp
• Bengal gram (channa dal)  - 2 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds –  1 tsp
• White lentils (urad dal) – 1 tsp
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Boil water and add the whole tamarind and let it sit for sometime.
2. Squeeze and extract the juice. Filter the extract and keep it aside.
3. Heat oil in a heavy, deep pan and add mustard seeds.
4. Once they splutter, add fenugreek seeds, channa dal, urad dal, dry red chillies and curry leaves and toss them for a minute. Add a pinch of asafoetida.
5. Cut onions into big pieces and saute until they are translucent.
6. Add the drumstick and toss for a minute.
7. Now add the tamarind juice, salt, turmeric powder and let them boil until drumstick is cooked.
8. Add sambar powder and allow them to cook at medium heat until you get rid of raw smell and it becomes a thick gravy.

Serve hot with white rice and fried papad or appalam.