Iru Puli Kuzhambu

Kuzhambu is a tamarind based dish (with veggies) made in almost every household in South India. Today's post is "Iru Puli Kuzhambu", one of the traditional dish famous in Tirunelveli district in Tamilnadu. It is called Iru Puli because the sourness for this dish comes from both tamarind and buttermilk. This is a great accompaniment for rice, dosa or idli.

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

Veggies of your choice (I chose Carrot, yellow pumpkin & brinjal)

Tamarind lemon sized

Curd 1 cup

Turmeric Powder a pinch

Salt to taste

Oil

To dry roast:

Tur dal 2 tsp

Red Chilli 3 to 4

Fenugreek Seeds 1 tsp

Shredded Coconut 1/2 cup

To temper:

Oil

Mustard Seeds 1 tsp

Fenugreek Seeds 1/2 tsp

Curry Leaves few

Method:

1. Dry roast the ingredients given under "To dry roast" and grind them into a smooth paste adding little water. Keep it aside.

2. Soak tamarind in hot water for 15 minutes. Extract the pulp and keep it aside.

3. Whisk the curd and add water. The sour taste must come from both tamarind & buttermilk. So you must have both in equal proportions.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds & curry leaves. When they splutter, add the vegetables. Add turmeric powder, salt & tamarind extract. Let it boil in medium flame until the veggies are cooked & the raw smell of the tamarind goes away.

5. Add the ground paste and allow it to blend with the tamarind mixture for 2 minutes.

6. Keep the flame in low and add the buttermilk. Once the mixture starts frothing, switch off the flame.

7. Garnish with curry leaves / coriander leaves.