Chettinad Vatha kuzhambu

Ingredients:

Tamarind - 1big gooseberry size.

Dry red chilly - 3-4

Brinjal -small 5-6

Garlic cloves -5

Urad dal -2 tsp

Mustard seeds -1 tsp

Methi (fenugreek) seeds -1 tsp

Coriander (daniya ) seeds -1 tsp

Toor dal - 1 tsp

Chana dal -1 tsp

Hing - a pinch

Onion -1 big

Sambar powder - 3 tsps

Curry leaves - few

Salt as required

Oil

Method:

Fry coriander seeds, chana dal, toor dal, methi seeds without adding oil till it becomes brown.

Grind these ingredients into masala powder.

Cut the brinjals lengthwise into half and the half into two,wash nicely and put them in water and keep aside.

Heat a kadai with oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal and methi seeds and fry till it becomes brown.

Now add curry leaves, dry red chillies and garlic chopped into pieces and also onion chopped into pieces and fry till it becomes soft.

Now add the sambar powder and fry.

Now add the tamarind extract liquid and brinjal pieces and allow it to boil.

Add the powdered masala powder to the boiling solution.

Lower the heat and let the kuzhambu boil for some time with all the mixtures.

After the vatha kuzhambu becomes thick, remove from fire .

Now serve the vatha kuzhambu hot with Rice and papad and some curd pachadi (raitha)

Milagu (black pepper corn) kuzhambu

Ingredients:
Tamarind - 1medium lemon size
Pepper corns - 3 tsps
Methi seeds -1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Red chillies -6 to 7
Turmeric (haldi)powder 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Mustard -1 tsp
Salt - as required

Method:
Soak the tamarind in water and make a thick liquid.
Take a kadai and roast the pepper corns,methi seeds, urad dal and red chillies
Powder these items in a dry grinder along with curry leaves.
Take a kadai and season in 2 tsps of oil mustard seeds and a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
Now pour the tamarind water on the seasoning and add the ground powder mixture.
Add salt, turmeric powder and curry leaves.
Allow it to boil and when it becomes thick put off the gas and remove from fire.

You can add some bits of bittergourd (pavakai) vegetable or dried raw mango (mangai vathal)i
in this kuzhambu.
This kuzhambu can be had with rice. It is quite sour and spicy. During winter this will make an excellent dish. You can also make a curd pachadi (raita) as a side dish for this kuzhambu since it will make a good combination.
You can make either cucumber, tomato or brinjal pachadi (raita)