Today's recipe is Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu. Okra is fried and simmered in a spicy tangy tamarind gravy. I make Puli Kuzhambu at least once in 15 days and is my favorite. This is kuzhambu is made with coconut. First fry the okra, keep it aside, then roast and grind fresh spices along with coconut and they are all simmered with tamarind extract and the result is a tasty flavorful kuzhambu. Using the same method, you can make variations by adding drumstick (murungakkai) for murungakkai puli kuzhambu, chickpeas (kondakadalai) for kondakadalai kuzhambu or just garlic for poondu kuzhambu, fish for meen kuzhambu and egg for egg kuzhambu or any other veggie of your choice too.
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Okra Tamarind gravy |
To roast and grind
Oil, 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon
Pearl Onions, 10-12 nos (de-skinned and chopped)
Coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon
Red chillies, 3-4 nos
Fresh grated coconut, 1/4 cup
Other ingredients
Ladies finger/ Vendakkai/ Okra, 10 nos
Tamarind, a small lemon ball size
Oil, as needed.
Mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon
Fenugreek seeds, 1/4 teaspoon
Curry leaves, 1 sprig
Asafoetida, a pinch
Turmeric powder, 1/4 teaspoon
Salt, to taste
Cilantro to garnish
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Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu |
How it is made?
- Soak tamarind in warm water and extract the juice and discard the pulp.
- In a pan, add a teaspoon of oil, cumin seeds, then pearl onion is added and fried for a minute or two, then add the coriander seeds, red chillies and continue to roast till it is roasted and aroma starts to come, then finally add the grated coconut mix and set it aside to cool. Then grind it to fine paste.
- Wash and wipe the okra dry. Then chop them in 1" long pieces.
- Fry them in oil and set them aside. I usually shallow fry in the pan I am using to make the gravy,once okra is fried will remove it from the pan and continue the cooking in the same pan using the left over oil.
- Heat oil, add mustard seeds and when they crack add fenugreek seeds and curry leaves and fry for a minute or two, then add a pinch of asafoetida, turmeric powder, and then add the ground paste, along with the tamarind extract and the fried okra, then add salt to taste and adjust the consistency by adding required water and bring it to boil and let it simmer till the oil starts separating around the sides.
- Then turn off the heat and garnish with cilantro and serve with rice.
Notes:
- Instead of adding coriander seeds and red chillies, you can add coriander powder and chilli powder too but add them in step 5, along with turmeric powder.
- If you don't have pearl onions, you can replace them with red onions too.
- Use personal judgement for the quantity of tamarind, since certain tamarinds are more tangier even when you use less quantity and certain tamarind are less tangier, so adjust the quantity.
One of my favs.. Looks tempting & inviting !
ReplyDeletewow super yummy kuzhambu aks... Haha... i thought its dash kuzhambu...;) super BG...
ReplyDeletesemma tempting...i too make this once in 15 days...love it...lovely click
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ReplyDeleteOh so tempting....
ReplyDeletewow thats an super tempting and tangalious curry :) looks so yummm !! am drooling here !! and lovely click dear
ReplyDeleteThe okra curry looks super tasty and tempting....
ReplyDeletesuper kuzhambu.. I too prepare this often. perfect with hot rice
ReplyDeleteOkra is my fav always.Curry looks great.
ReplyDeleteTempting tangy kuzhambu.. This is my favourite..
ReplyDeletegravy looks super awesome n okra is my fav...
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ReplyDeleteso creamy and yummy kuzhambu
ReplyDeletedelicious...
ReplyDeletedelicious kuzhambu!
ReplyDeleteSuper delicious and tangy gravy love it dear...
ReplyDeleteSlurp, fingerlicking kuzhambu definitely, i can have with anything.
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ReplyDeletei like it more in sabji dear.. but puli kuzhambu ku yennakum no solla mudiyadu :)
ReplyDeletedelicious gravy for okra.
ReplyDeleteNice dear..reminds me of theeyal which is prepared in Kerala.
ReplyDeleteUna sopa exquisita,saludable y picante me gusta,muy hermosa,hugs,hugs.
ReplyDeletedelicious kuzhambu.
ReplyDeleteLooks good and tempting :)
ReplyDeletemy fav okra recipe, kuzhambu looks so inviting, nice bg n clicks !
ReplyDeleteDelicious curry a little different from my usual version :) would love to try this sometime soon
ReplyDeleteSuper delicious and inviting Kuzhambu . Love it dear.
ReplyDeleteI was searching for this taste for a long time and happy that it came out well.we use it even for chappathi.sucha deliciou
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking time to give your feedback. Glad you liked it. :)
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