Vatha Kuzhambu is one of the traditional kuzhambu that we often do in Tamil Nadu. It has a mix of taste of sour, spice, salty and its tongue-tickling. Usually we add the sun dried berries (Manathakkali Vathal), Sundakkai Vathal or vegetables like Yellow Pumpkin, Ladyfinger, Brinjal or just Pappad. Instead of sun dried berries, we can use fresh unripe berries to make the delicious Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu.
Manathakkali Keerai, is a very healthy greens especially for curing mouth-ulcers. In my childhood days, our manathakkali keerai was abundant in my garden and my mom used to make keerai masiyal often. In this recipe, we are adding Manathakkali Kai. Manathakkali Kai are tiny berries that are green in color and turns black when ripe. It’s called Blacknightshade in English. In this recipe we are adding Manathakkai Kai. It’s slightly bitter in taste but has high nutrition values.
Tips for making Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu:
- Extract thick juice of tamarind for Vatha kuzhambu.
- For Kalyana Vatha kuzhambu we used to fry dal, chili, pepper and grind it. But this is like an Instant version where we just fry the sambar powder in oil. While frying sambar powder in oil, keep the flame very low so that the sambar powder doesn’t get burnt.
- Also while frying Manathakkali seeds, keep flame in low to prevent them getting burnt.
- We can add a teaspoon of jaggery at the end to balance the tangy and spice flavors.
You may also want to try:
- Vengaya Vatha Kuzhambu
- Vendaya Keerai Kara Kuzhambu
- Pacha Milagai Kuzhambu
- Coriander seeds Kuzhambu
- Vendhaya Kuzhambu
Recipe Card for Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu Recipe | Pacha Manathakkali Kai Vatha Kuzhambu:
Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu | Pacha Manathakkali Kai Vatha Kuzhambu
Equipment
- Heavy Bottomed Pan
Ingredients
- 1 Lemon Size Tamarind
- ¼ Cup Manathakkali Kai (Black Night Shade / Wonder Berry)
- 1 tbsp Sambar Powder
- 1 tsp Salt Adjust as Needed
- 1 tbsp Rice Flour
For Tempering
- 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- ½ tsp Fenugreek seeds
- Few Curry leaves
Instructions
Preparation
- Soak tamarind in warm water for 10 mins. Extract the juice and set aside.
Tempering
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow it to sputter. Then add fenugreek seeds and fry till golden.
- Next, add curry leaves followed by Sambar Powder. Keep the flame in very low and fry the sambar powder for couple of minutes.
- Add Manathakkali kai to the pan. Stir-fry the manathakkali kai for a minute in low flame.
Cooking Kuzhambu
- Then, we need to add the tamarind juice to the pan. Add the necessary salt, asafoetida and give a good mix.
- Allow the tamarind extract to boil for atleast 5 mins to get rid off the raw smell.
- Once the tamarind mixture nicely is cooked, take rice flour in a bowl. Add water and mix to to a paste.
- Add this rice flour paste to the kuzhambu and stir well so that there are no lumps.
- Keep in flame and bring the kuzhambu to boil. Switch off the flame
Serving Time
- Serve the healthy Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu with hot steaming rice along with a teaspoon of sesame oil and enjoy this delicious kuzhambu!
Video
Nutrition
Instructions with Step by Step Pictures
PREPARATION
- Soak tamarind in warm water for 10 mins. Extract the juice and set aside.
TEMPERING
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow it to sputter. Then add fenugreek seeds and fry till golden.
- Next, add curry leaves followed by Sambar Powder. Keep the flame in very low and fry the sambar powder for couple of minutes.
- Add Manathakkali kai to the pan. Stir-fry the manathakkali kai for a minute in low flame.
COOKING KUZHAMBU
- Then, we need to add the tamarind juice to the pan. Add the necessary salt, asafoetida and give a good mix.
- Allow the tamarind extract to boil for atleast 5 mins to get rid off the raw smell.
- Once the tamarind mixture nicely is cooked, take rice flour in a bowl. Add water and mix to to a paste.
- Add this rice flour paste to the kuzhambu and stir well so that there are no lumps.
- Keep in flame and bring the kuzhambu to boil. Switch off the flame
SERVING
- Serve the healthy Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu with hot steaming rice along with a teaspoon of sesame oil and enjoy this delicious kuzhambu!
The post Manathakkali Kai Kuzhambu Recipe | Pacha Manathakkali Kai Vatha Kuzhambu appeared first on Subbus Kitchen.