Thursday, September 13, 2007

Vendakkai Kuzhambu

This is a sweet, sour, hot and tangy curry. My mommy used to make it during some festival. So I used to call it 'swamy kuzhambu'. This dish is served hot with white rice and appalams are the best combination for this. If anybody does this kuzhambu at home and know it's name please let me know too. So, here is the procedure for this dish.

Ingredients:
Vendakkai/okra - 10 to 15
onion- 1/2 (chopped)
tamarind- 1 1/2 tbsp (can add less or more depending upon one's taste. But the gravy has to be little tangy)
green chillies- 10 (cut into small bits)
coconut- 3 tbsp (shredded)
curry leaves- few
steamed toor dal- 1 cup
turmeric- 1/2 tsp
water- 2 cups
salt- as reqd
jaggery- a little less than 1 /2 tsp
mustard- 1/2 tsp
jeera- 1 tsp

Procedure:
Steam cook toor dal with some turmeric and a tsp of oil. Wash okra and trim of the ends and cut it into two. If the okra is big, cut it into 1 1/2 " size. Chop onions and green chillies. Heat oil in pan. Season with mustard seeds, jeera and channa dal. Then add onions, turmeric and green chillies. Now add okra and some salt. Cook until 3/4 th done. Then add tamarind and water. Combine well and bring to a boil. Now add toor dal and heat it up. Finally add curry leaves and coconut and jaggery. Bring it to a nice boil. check for salt and switch off gas. Serve hot with rice.

24 comments:

Richa said...

kuzhambu looks so nice n thick :) will go very well with rice and some papad :)

Chef Jeena said...

Looks lovely kribha I wish I had a spoon to dip in :) Great pictures to go with a wonderful recipe, thanks. :)

Prema Sundar said...

kuzhambu looks different Kribha. looks like sambar without sambar powder... thanks for the recipe.

indosungod said...

Kribha, Hope you had a good Wedding Anniversary Celebration, the plate of food looks lovely, must have been a wonderful celebration.

Vendakkai is one of my favortie veggies, Kuzhambu with rice and appalam, tasty hmmm.

FH said...

Love the Bendekai saaru,tastes so good.Thanks for this too Kribha.Happy G and G habba:))

Shobana senthilkumar said...

WOW!!!
kuzhambu looks gr8 and very thick.
Thanks for sharing.

Kribha said...

Hi Richa,
Thanks dear. Yes, plain rice and appalams are the best combo for this. Can't beat it.

Hi Jeena,
I'm glad you liked it. I would like to share with you if you lived closeby.

Hi Prema,
it's true. When I first learnt this recipe from my mom I told that it sounds like sambar. But when I did it I really noticed the distinct flavor in it. Give it a try if you can. You will surely like it.

Hi ISG,
Thanks for your kind words. Sure we had a nice time on our anniversary. Glad you liked the curry too.

Hi Asha,
Is this a karnataka dish too? Never knew it's name before. Thanks for letting me know it.
Also, 'sorry ' asha. I did not understand that "G and G habba" part. I guessed that one 'g' is for ganesha chaturthi. So, what's the other 'g' for?

Hi Priar,
Thanks for your kind comment. Glad you liked it. Do try it sometime.

Viji said...

Kribha, vendakai in kozumbu tastes heaven. Lovely recipe. Viji

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TBC said...

Hey Kribha,
So this is the swamy kozhambu you were talking about. It looks delicious! And even if you find out what it's actually called, you should still continue calling it Swamy K:-).
I scrolled to the post below & saw your pic. You look so cute & have a nice smile:-)
Belated anniversary wishes!

Kribha said...

Hi Viji,
Thanks dear. I'm happy that you liked it.

Hi Tbc,
Thanks for your wishes & compliments dear. Yes, this is the swamy K that I was talking about. Still hunting for the name. Until then it will remain the same or maybe the former itself is good only as you say.

Bharathy said...

More or less looks and igredients too like vendakka sambhar..I like the unusual touch of jaggery!!:)Nice homely recipe!

bha said...

tangy okra curry seems very inviting...seems its time to make one myself

Padma said...

Nice n tangy bhindi curry Kribha....looks so tempting...found another way to treat okra...tx

USHA said...

Hi Kribha,
Kuzhambhu looks different and new recipe i got..hey just now updated your anniversary post...it was interesting....happy to see your family snap too.....

Seema Bhat said...

Nice Kribha, I love the flavor that bendekai gives to sambar and saaru. The dish looks wonderful.

Suma Gandlur said...

That must be delicious, Kribha.
Happy Anniversary.

Sharmi said...

the name kulambu itself makes me hungry. lovely and delicious. my grandmom makes this very nicely.

Sia said...

thats such a simple and delicious recipe kribha... hw abt calling it okra dal?;)

Kribha said...

Hi Bharathy,
That's what I thought too initially. But it tastes like milaggai pachidi with dal in it. try it sometime if you can.

Hi Bhags,
Thanks dear. I'm happy that you liked it. I'll gladly share it with you if you come by.

Hi Padma,
If you love spicy food you are truly in for a treat. It tastes so yummy with rice and papad. Do give it a try sometime.

Hi Usha,
Try it sometime. I'm sure you will like it. Thanks for your kind words.

Dear Seema,
It's true. Vendakkai does impart a unique flavor to the dish it is used in. Glad you liked this.

Hi Suma,
Thanks dear for your wishes. I'm happy that you liked the curry.

Hi Sharmi,
Do post your grandma's version sometime. I'll be really happy to learn her way.

Hi Sia,
'Okra Dal'...Now, why didn't I think of it. You are smart.

remya said...

hii kribha,nice lovely tamil dish...i like to taste...romba nallaerukuuu....ur blog is nice...

Kribha said...

Warm welcome to you Remya. Thanks for your kind words. Please come back for more.

Swaruchy said...

Looks very inviting...I loved this dish when I was in Tamil Nadu and kerala.....Thanks for the recipe :-)

Kribha said...

Thanks sirisha. You are most welcome.