Aruppukottai Poondu Puli Kuzhambu / Garlic Tamarind Curry

This recipe I learnt from my in-laws home. They are Aruppukottai native so my mom in law often cook those dishes which are popular in those areas. Its quite an easy curry which can be done quickly. If you don't have any vegetables in your home at present, but you are in a situation to prepare some curry instantly and quickly, you can very well prefer this recipe which does not need any special spices or veggies for this, just with the available spices at your home you can prepare this curry. Let's see how to prepare...

Ingredients:

1. Garlic - 10 pods
2. Fenugreek seeds / Methi  - few
3. Tamarind pulp - 2 tbsp
4. Jaggery - 2 tsp
5. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
6. Coconut grated - 1 tbsp
7. Roasted Gram / Pottukadalai - 1 to 2 tsp
8. Small Onion Chopped - 1 to 2 tbsp
9. Sambar Powder - 1 tbsp
10. Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
11. Gingelly Oil - 1 tbsp
12. Salt as per taste
13. Coriander leaves for Garnishing

Cooking Method:

Be ready with the Ingredients. Soak the Tamarind in hot water for some time and extract pulp from it. Or you can use Tamarind Paste too. Cut the Garlic in to small pieces as shown in the below pic.


Click the Image and zoom you will get clear enlarged stepwise pictures

Take a heavy bottomed pan add gingelly oil, methi, fry it for just 1 sec and immediately add onion, garlic, curry leaves and saute it till it becomes light brown. 
Add Tamarind pulp, sambar and turmeric powder stir well, add some water and let it boil for few minutes. Close the lid for cooking.

Meanwhile grind the coconut and roasted gram to a fine paste. Add it to the pan along with salt and cook in medium flame for about 5 mins. Add jaggery and cook it for few minutes. Finally Garnish with coriander leaves.

Now we have prepared tasty Poondu Puli Kuzhambu quickly and can have it with Rice for lunch ...

Notes:

1. Home made Sambar powder is preferable
2. Do not add more coconut and roasted gram, as the taste may differ. Roasted gram is just for thickening the curry.

Iyengar Hotel Style Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu / Ladies Finger Tamarind Curry

Our neighbour Mami taught me this tasty Vendaikkai Puli Kuzhambu. She is good at cooking Hotel style recipes and especially Tamarind related recipes. I too like this puli Kuzhambu and included in my lunch menu.

Ingredients:

• Ladies finger - 200 gms
• Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp 
• Tomato - 1 medium size
• Small Onions - 10 nos
• Tamarind Pulp - 2 tbsp
• Rice - 2 tsp
• Fenugreek - 2 tsp
• Hing/Asafoetida - 2 tsp
• Sambar powder - 2 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
• Jaggery - 1 tbsp
• Gingelly Oil - 4 tbsp
• Curry leaves - 2 sprig
• Coriander leaves for Garnishing

Cooking Method:

Wash and wipe the ladies finger in a kitchen towel well. Let it dry for some time. Cut in medium size pieces as shown. Don't cut too small or thin.

In a cup soak the rice for some time and grind it along with the coconut and keep it aside.

In a cup soak the Tamarind or u may use readymade tamarind paste too. Also be ready with the Jaggery.

• In a kadai add Gingelly Oil and add Fenugrrek and Hing. Let it becomes golden brown. 
• Then add onions, tomato, curry leaves and fry till it becomes soft.
• Now add Ladies finger and saute well for few mins. 
• After that add sambar and turmeric powders. saute well in oil for about 10 mins in a medium flame. 
• The ladies finger should be half cooked while roasting itself.
• Now add the grounded coconut paste along with salt and add some water and cook well for about 5 mins closing the lid.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear enlarged stepwise pictures

Now add the tamarind pulp and let it boil in high flame for some time. Stir often. Now the Oil floats on the kuzhambu and its time for adding jaggery and mix well. leave for 2 mins in simmer. Finally Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Now Iyengar Hotel Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu is ready to have for lunch along with Rice. Thank you Mami for teaching me such a nice Curry.