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Small Onion Vatha Kuzhambu

Gayathri Vijayakumar
Spicy Traditional Small Onion Vatha Kuzhambu: Tangy tamarind gravy with crispy shallots, fenugreek, and gingelly oil. Authentic Tamil Nadu recipe ready in 30 mins. Vegan & stores for quite a few days.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoon Sesame Oil
  • Tamarind a small orange size
  • 4 cups Water
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
  • ½ teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
  • Curry Leaves few
  • 1 teaspoon Chana Dal
  • ½ teaspoon Asafoetida
  • ¼ cup Pachai Sundakkai / Fresh Turkey Berry
  • ½ cup Small Onion / Shallots
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • Salt as needed
  • 4 tablespoon Sambar Powder
  • Jaggery a tiny piece

Instructions
 

  • Take small orange size tamarind in a bowl. Pour warm or hot water over it. Let it soak well. Squeeze and strain the juice. You get thick tamarind water. Set aside. You can do this step a few hours in advance also. It is easier to extract tamarind juice if it soaks for longer hours.
  • Take a heavy bottomed pan / kadai. Heat sesame oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, chana dal and asafoetida.
  • Now add small onion and pachai sundakkai (You can add any veggies of your choice), turmeric powder and saute. Next, add little salt. Mix together. Add sambar powder. Stir on a low flame and add tamarind extract.
  • Boil well for 10 minutes on a medium flame. Add a tiny piece of jaggery.
  • Let the vatha kuzhambu boil till it comes to a thick consistency. The raw smell and taste of the tamarind must disappear. Meanwhile, taste and adjust salt, and jaggery as needed.
  • Once the desired consistency is reached, add a teaspoon of sesame oil. Switch off.
  • Hot vatha kuzhambu is ready to be served with rice and your choice of side dish.

Notes

Add sambar powder according to its spice level. Mine is homemade and is mildly spicy. Adjust the quantity according to your level of spice tolerance. 
Adjust salt, jaggery and water quantity also according to your desired consistency. 
Add any vegetables, or vathal according to your choice. 
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