Vendaikkai pulikuzhambu

One of hubby’s friend left this place for good and when he home came to say ‘good bye’ he brought with him a bag of goodies.Not the ‘chocolate-biscuits-cake’ kinda goody bag but a bag of Indian spices,dhals and spice mixes!

In that bag was a pack of dried ladies finger[vendakkai vatral] that caught our immediate attention and hubby gave a wicked smile!He loves pulikuzhambu[sour stew] and I was sure he was thinking about it then and there!

This recipe is what I learnt from MIL and mom’s version is a lot different[and tastier ;)].We usually use fresh vegetables but this time wanted to prepare it with this with the vatral.

We don’t get ladies finger[not to mention loads of other ‘Indian’ vegetables like small onions,drumstick,mint, beetroot,ridgegourd,baby potatoes etc],hence everyone at home were eager to sample this dish!

That’s the final dish posing with the vatral by its side

Now to the recipe

I used:

Vendakkai vatral-2 fistful
Coconut-1/4 grated
Chilli powder- 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder- 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-1/4 teaspoon
Tamarind extract-1/2 a cup,thick
Onion-1 ,chopped
Garlic-3 pods,chopped
Tomato -1 chopped
Mustard-1 teaspoon
Curry leaves a few
Sesame seed oil-3 tablespoons[It’s a lot I know,but its tasty and we gona prepare this once in a while and not so often!]

1. Make a thick paste of coconut,coriander powder,chilli powder and turmeric.Keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan and put in the vatral and fry till they crisp.Keep sauteing it and take care not to char them.Remove them from the oil and keep aside.
3. In the same oil,put in mustard and curry leaves.
4. When it splutters add the onion and garlic and fry till the onion is soft.
5. Put in tomato and cook till mushy.
6. Put in the tamarind extract,coconut paste,salt and enough water.Check taste and adjust.You may need to add more water it its too tangy.
7. Let it come to a roaring boil ,simmer and cook till oil separates.
8. Put in the vartal and cook till it is soft.

Serve hot with warm steamed rice.

Note:

• Sesame oil brings out the flavor of this dish but you can also use any other other cooking oil
• Similarly you can reduce the quantity of oil used.
• Can use fresh vegetables too.In that case skip step 2 and saute vegetables in step 6 before adding the tamarind extract.
• It tastes all the more delicious when savored the next day!

Happy cooking…