Poondu Milagu Kuzhambu/ Garlic Pepper Gravy

Today I suddenly had craving for Garlic Kuzhambu and I wanted to try something different from my usual recipe. I had bookmarked this from Sangee's space a while ago.So tried this at home and came out really well. I just did a few changes to fit our taste. This is a tamarind based gravy with pronounced flavor of garlic and pepper. This gravy is good for health and is a remedy for cold. 

Recipe Source: Spicy Treats

What are the ingredients needed?

To grind together

Oil, 1 teaspoon

Cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander seeds, 1 1/2 tablespoon

Pepper, 1 tablespoon

Dry Red chillies, 2 nos.

Chopped onion, 1/2 cup

Garlic, 4-5 cloves

Shredded coconut, 2 teaspoon

Other Ingredients

Oil, 2 teaspoons

Mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon

Cumin seeds,1/4 teaspoon

Fenugreek seeds, 1/4 teaspoon

Peppercorns, 5-6 nos.

Asafoetida, a pinch

Curry leaves, a sprig

Garlic, 10-12 cloves (peeled) 

Onion,1 medium sized (finely chopped)

Tomato,1 no.(chopped)

Turmeric Powder, 1/2 teaspoon

Tamarind, a small lemon ball size

Salt, to taste

How  it is made?

1. First take all the ingredients listed under 'to grind together' except coconut and roast them in oil  and let them cool. Then  along with coconut grind them into a smooth paste.
2. Soak tamarind in water and extract the juice and keep it ready.
3. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds and peppercorns, Asafoetida and fry them till they sputter. Then add garlic and curry leaves and fry for few minutes.
4. Then add onions and fry till they turn translucent. Then add the chopped tomatoes and turmeric and cook till the tomatoes turn mushy.
5. Now add the ground paste to this and fry for another 2 minutes, then add the extracted tamarind juice, salt to taste and water to adjust the thickness, mix well and bring it to boil. Let it simmer for few minutes and turn off  the heat.
6. Serve it with rice.

It serves 4 persons.

Notes:

• You can adjust the spice level as per your personal taste. 
• Instead of Large onions, you can use pearl onions. You can substitute 8-10 pearl onions for one onion.
• I made this gravy with sesame oil. You can make it canola, sunflower oil or vegetable oil too. 
• This is a thick, spicy gravy. It can be had with rice topped with  sesame oil.