Apr 4, 2008

Garlic Tamarind Gravy(Poondu Kara-Kuzhambu)

Kara-kuzhambu roughly translates into sour and spicy gravy, and a famous dish in Karaikudi, a village that belongs to Chettinad region in Tamilnadu.The three elements that describes Tamil cuisine are uppu (salt), puli (tamarind) and milagai (chilli) and kara kuzhambu is the best example that brings out all the 3 individual flavours.Coming to garlic , it has lot of medicinal values.It helps lower cholesterol too.See here for herbal remedies of garlic.


INGREDIENTS:

Garlic large(peeled) - 4 whole heads
Tamarind Juice – 1/2cup
Chopped red onion – 1cup
Garlic cloves(grated) - 6
Chopped tomato - 1
Jaggery or brown sugar -1tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chili powder - 1tsp
Sesame oil -1 cup
Mustard seeds –1tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
Channa dal - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilies 3-5
Curry leaves – 1spring
Hing

To grind:

Red chili – 2
Grated Coconut – 2tsp
Cumin seeds – 1/2tsp
Pepper corns – 1tsp
Dhania seeds – 1/2tsp

METHOD:


In a pan heat oil and fry the garlic (whole cloves) for few minutes till oil coats on them and keep aside. In a deep pan, heat few spoons of oil. Add garlic (grated), fry till its raw smell goes off. Add onions and fry till they turn to golden brown color. Now add tomatoes, fry them till they loose their water content.

Now add turmeric, chili powder, sugar and saute well.Grind all the ingredients above into fine paste. Mix the paste and chili powder with tamarind juice. Add salt and adjust for your taste.Add the tamarind juice and 2 cups of water into the pan. Cover and cook over medium flame.

Once the gravy started boiling add the fried garlic cloves.Allow it to boil till the gravy consolidated.In a separate pan, heat oil. Add mustard, cumin,hing, fenugreek, channa dal, urad dal, dry red chilies and curry leaves. Let them pop and splutter well. Pour this seasoning over the gravy.Serve this along with plain steamed rice and pappad.


This spicy gravy goes to this month's JFI hosted by Mathy with the theme of garlic.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

Dhivya..I love the colour of this gravy..Have nt made this..will try sometime

Cham said...

I make it pretty much the same way :) When Chettinad woman ran out of veg, they make this kara kuzhambu even without garlic. My favo Kuzhambu looks perfect :)

kamala said...

Looks really hot and spicy.All time favourite at my home

Anonymous said...

I love this recipe. My neighbour were Tamilians and they used to make these once a while and it's absolutely delicious. Thanks for the recipe!

--Priya

Madhavi said...

wow dhivya..this is mouthwatering !!!

ranji said...

hi dhivya! I have also prepared a similar gravy slightly different though.Urs look delicious and very simple.I love it..
bittergourd pickle i made is not at all bitter as I apply salt and squeeze out the water b4 frying..this removes half the bitterness and also when u fry it u dont taste the bitterness.Its great with rice.

srikars kitchen said...

Wonderful divya!!! looks yummy.... great click dear......mouth watering dish....

Deepa Kuber said...

Such a beautiful color. i can smell the recipe from here :)

Uma said...

Looks delicious. Awesome pictures as usual.

EC said...

The color of the kuzhambu looks lovely...

Sagari said...

this is a very new recipe for me divya ,beautifullll color

Lavanya Raj said...

Dhivya..Nice tempting Kuzhambhu..jaggery would have enhanced the taste.

Anonymous said...

Looks absolutely delicious.Your pics are great!

bha said...

nice colour of the gravy...and yes cool pics for a hot gravy

Anonymous said...

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Daily Meals said...

Looks spicy and colourful kalai!

Vaishali said...

Amazing recipe, Dhivya, and your pictures are making me hungry.The sour, sweet and spicy flavors must play beautifully in this dish!

Seena said...

yum, you have many good recipes,D.
I have the same taste.. :)

Unknown said...

amazing gravy divya!loved the color

Rosie said...

Dhivya, what an awesome colour!! Oh and the sweet, sour and spicy flavour must just taste great! :)

Rosie x

Unknown said...

Looks really hot and spicy!

Annu said...

That looks awesome dhivya..........Will try this soon.

Unknown said...

Very new to me Dhivya and agr8 recipe.

Finla said...

Oh I am just drooling here.
Just wanted to grab and eat them.
Looks so good and the pictures are fabulous

AnuZi said...

looks like a yummy recipe and the pics looks amazing!

Meera said...

Wow! It must have tasted so good.

Anonymous said...

Kuzambu is so tempting divya. Looking wonderful.

Dhivya said...

Divya - would love to hear ur feedback dear

Cham - Glad u like this too cham:)

Kamala - my favorite too:))

Priya - thanks for ur nice words girl

Madhavi - thanks madhavi:))

Ranji - glad u love these ranji..and thanks for answering my question..

Sri - thanks sri

anjali - do u want me to parcel this..lol

uma - thanks uma

EC and sagari - thanks u girls

lavi - yes lavi!u r absolutely correct

Dhivya said...

home - thanks dear..i love ur pictures too

Bags - thanks for visiting my blog bhags

girle - thanks dear..sure i will visit ur blog

Daily meals and vaishali - thanks girls

seena - glad u like this seena:))love ur zebra cake

sandhiya ans rosie - thanks

priya - thanks for ur nice words dear

annu - let me know how u like them ..thanks

saswati and happycook - thank u very much girls

anuzi and hima - glad u like this kuzhambu..thanks

meera - yeah..it tasted wonderful..thanks

Madhavi said...

Dhivya, i made this yesterday and the taste was awesome dear. Thanxx for the recipe!! I m in love with your recipes:)))