Bottle Gourd Sambar Recipe / Sorakkai Sambar / Lauki Sambar

Sorakkai sambar / Bottle gourd sambar with freshly ground spices (Arachuvitta sorakkai sambar in Tamil) is an yummy, flavorful sambar recipe for rice. I have never tried varieties of sorakkai recipes for rice apart from  paal kootu , Poricha kuzhambu,  sorakkai dosai and poriyal. When I heard about this sorakka sambar from my neighbor, I was tempted to give a try.  Basically bottle gourd is a bland vegetable. It doesn’t have any appealing flavor or taste. But its a healthy vegetable with lots of benefits. It has more water content which helps for weight loss, provides cooling effect to body, reduces liver inflammation, treats constipation etc. So I try to include this veggie atleast once in a week in my diet. For this sambar instead of following my usual sambar recipe, I added Tamil brahmin style arachuvitta sambar masala by roasting and grinding the spices, chilli and coconut. It came out very well with an awesome aroma. We loved this sambar very much. In Karnataka, my friends make Sorakkai sambar in a different way by adding a different masala. Soon I will try to learn from them and make a post. Now lets see how to make Tamilnadu style sorakkai sambar recipe with step by step pictures.

Check out my other sambar varieties for rice.

Also check out my 70+ kuzhambu recipes !

Sorakkai Samabr / Bottle gourd sambar recipe

Arachuvitta Sorakkai sambar / Bottle gourd sambar for rice with freshly ground masala.

Cuisine: Tamil nadu

Category: Sambar

Serves: Serves 4

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 250ml Toor dal - 1/3 cup Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Cooking oil - few drops Bottle gourd - 1/2 ( Cut into big chunks) Big onion - 1 (Chop into cubes) Tomato - 1 (Chop into cubes) Green chilli – 1 (slit into two) Curry leaves - Few Cumin seeds / Jeera - 1/4 tsp Tamarind - Big gooseberry size Sambar powder – 1/2 tsp (Optional, Use any brand or homemade) Salt & water - as needed To roast and grind Cooking oil - 2 tsp Coriander seeds / dhania - 1 tbsp Chana dal - 1 tbsp Urad dal - 1 tsp Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp Red chilli - 6 Raw rice - 1/2 tsp Hing - 2 pinches Grated coconut - 1 tbsp To Temper Ghee - 1 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - Few Coriander leaves - to garnish

HOW TO MAKE SORAKKAI SAMBAR

1. Wash and peel the skin of sorakkai / bottle gourd. Cut into two and chop the spongy portion. Discard it. Chop sorakkai into big cubes and set aside.
2. In a pressure cooker, take the toor dal, chopped bottle gourd, onion, tomato, green chilli, cumin seeds, required water and a drop of cooking oil. Cook for 1 whistle in very low flame. Mash the dal gently and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a kadai. Roast all the items given under “To roast and grind”. Grind to smooth paste.
4. To the cooked dal add tamarind extract, ground masala paste, salt and some water.
5. Roll boil for 5 minutes till nice aroma wafts. Temper in ghee and add to sambar. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with rice !

SORAKKAI SAMBAR RECIPE - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Soak tamarind in 1 cup of water. Wash the bottle gourd and peel its outer skin using a peeler. Cut into two pieces and remove the center, spongy part using a knife and hands. Discard the soft part with seeds. Now chop the sorakkai into big pieces as we are making sambar with it. For poriyal or kootu, you can chop it finely. In a pressure cooker base, take toor dal, chopped bottle gourd, chopped big onion, tomato, slit green chilli, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, required water and a drop of cooking oil. Keep the flame high and cook till steam starts to come out of the nozzle. As soon as steam comes out, lower the flame completely and put the weight valve. Let it pressure cook in very low flame for one whistle. It may take 8 to 12 minutes depending on the size of cooker. (If you use small sized cooker, keep it in small burner gas stove. For bigger sized cooker, use big burner.). Open the cooker lid after the steam is released on its own. Mash the dal gently with a ladle. Make sure you don’t mash the sorakkai pieces. While pressure cooking, you can roast the ingredients for sambar masala. For this, heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai. Roast chana dal, urad dal, red chilli, methi seeds, coriander seeds and raw rice. Roast in medium flame till dal turns golden brown. Do not burn any ingredient. After roasting, grind everything to a smooth paste adding coconut and water.    Add 1 cup of tamarind extract, sambar powder (optional), ground sambar masala paste to the cooked dal. Adjust the consistency of sambar by adding water. Add required salt. Let the sambar roll boil for few minutes till nice aroma wafts through your house. Add little water based on the thickness of sambar. Switch off the flame and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Last but not the least do the tempering part. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a small kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves and add to sambar. Mix well and close with a lid. Give a standing time of 30 minutes to 1 hour for best taste and flavor. Mix this sambar with plain rice. Do not forget to add few drops of ghee while serving !(This sambar thickens as it cools down. So add some water, give a boil and serve hot whenever needed). Enjoy !

Note

Do not chop sorakkai into small pieces. It gets mashed up while pressure cooking. So use big pieces. Adjust the quantity of red chilli as per your spice level. This sambar thickens over time. So you should add water whenever needed, give a boil and serve hot. Addition of sambar powder is optional in arachuvitta kuzhambu. But I use little. Do not forget to temper in ghee for more flavor.

Try this yummy sorakkai arachuvitta sambar and share your feedback with me.

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Karamani Kuzhambu – Thatta Payaru Kulambu Recipe

I tried this Karamani kuzhambu aka Thatta payaru kuzhambu in Tamil (cowpeas / black eyed pea gravy in English) for the first time by getting the recipe from a friend. This kulambu recipe is with coconut and fennel seeds masala. So it was so good and flavorful just like hotel kara kuzhambu. The flavor of roasted red karamani enhanced it even better. We all loved this Kulambu. We had a satisfaction of including a healthy legume in our regular diet. 

My friend told me to soak the cowpeas over night and pressure cook it before adding to the kuzhambu. But I simplified the job by following my MIL’s technique of cooking karamani instantly without soaking. Yes, I roasted the karamani in little oil till its aromatic and then pressure cooked it in the kulambu itself. It was well cooked and soft to eat. 

Friends, if you follow this method you can make cowpeas gravy for rice under 15 minutes using a pressure cooker. I am sure you will love to see the layer of oil floating on top once you open the cooker. If you want try the same recipe by soaking and pre cooking karamani, you can try that too. In that case soak it for 3 to 4 hours in hot water. Similarly you can use white Lobia/ cowpeas or brown chana. If you like, you can pair it with any vegetables like brinjal, potato or lady’s finger. 

Ok, lets see how to make karamani / thatta payir kuzhambu recipe with step by step pictures.

If you want to try this kuzhambu without coconut, please check my brown chana kuzhambu for an idea. You can use karamani instead of kondakadalai.

Karamani kuzhambu / thatta payir kulambu recipe

Thatta payaru kuzhambu / Karamani kulambu recipe for rice made instantly without soaking cowpeas in an easy way using a pressure cooker.

Cuisine: South Indian

Category: Kuzhambu recipes

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 250ml Cowpeas / red karamani / thattai payir - 1/2 cup Sesame oil or cooking oil - 2 tbsp  Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Fenugreek / Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad dal – 1/2 tsp Big onion - 1 (chopped finely) Garlic cloves – 10 no. Curry leaves - Few Ripe tomato - 1 (chopped finely) Tamarind - Big gooseberry size Sambar powder - 1 tbsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Salt and water - as needed To Grind Grated coconut - 1/4 cup Fennel seeds - 1 tsp

HOW TO MAKE KARAMANI KUZHAMBU

1. Wash and keep the karamai aside. You ca n soak it for 4 hours optionally. Wash and chop onion, tomato.
2. In a pressure cooker base, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, methi seeds, cumin seeds and urad dal.
3. Saute onion, garlic cloves and curry leaves till transparent.
4. Add karamani and roast for 5 minutes in low to medium flame.
5. Add chopped tomato and saute till mushy. Add sambar powder, salt and turmeric powder.
6. Saute quickly without burning. Add 1 cup of tamarind extract, ground coconut paste. Mix well.
7. Pressure cook in low flame for 3 to 4 whistles. Switch off the flame and remove after steam is released. Mix well and serve hot with plain rice. Enjoy !

THATTA PAYARU KULAMBU / KARAMANI KUZHAMBU RECIPE - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Wash the karamani/ cowpeas and drain the water completely.  You can soak the karamani adding enough water for 4 to 6 hours OR make it without soaking too. I did not soak the karamani instead I roasted in oil till flavorful and pressure cooked as told below.  Wash and chop onion, tomato finely. Peel garlic cloves. Grind coconut, fennel seeds to a smooth paste adding required water. Set aside. In a pressure cooker base, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, methi seeds and cumin seeds. Add onion, garlic cloves and curry leaves. Saute till onion becomes transparent. Add karamani. Roast it for 5 minutes in low to medium flame till nice aroma arises. Then add tomato and saute till mushy. (Instead of roasting karamani, you can soak it for 4 hours, pressure cook it and add to the cooker. In that case pressure cook the kuzhambu for one whistle in low flame). Add turmeric powder, sambar powder and salt. Saute quickly. Then add 1 cup of tamarind extract. Mix well. When it comes to a boil, add the ground coconut paste. Mix well and check for taste. Add more salt and sambar powder if needed. Cover the cooker with a lid. Keep the flame high. When the steam starts to come out, put the weight valve. Reduce the flame completely low. Cook for 4 to 5 whistles in low flame. Karamani cooks well and soft. Don't worry, it won't turn mushy. If you are using soaked karamani,  pressure cook for one whistle in low flame. Remove after the steam is released. You can see a layer of oil floating on top. Mix well an check for consistency of kuzhambu.  If its too thick, add some water and give one boil. If its too thin, boil for few minutes to evaporate the excess water. Serve with plain rice. If you like, you can add a tsp of oil or ghee over the kuzhambu while serving. Enjoy ! Stays good for 2 days in refrigerator.

Note

For variations, you can use brown chana or white chana instead of cowpeas in this kuzhambu but soak them overnight, pressure cook and then add it. Fennel seeds gives a nice flavor to this kuzhambu. So do not skip it. This kuzhambu stays good in refrigerator for more than 2 days. You can store and enjoy.

Try this easy, yummy karamani kara kuzhambu and share your feedback with me !

Technorati Tags: Karamani kuzhambu,thatta payir kuzhambu,thatta payaru kulambu,karamani kuzhambu recipe,cowpeas recipes,how to make karamani kuzhambu

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Tirunelveli style Puli Illa Kari – Puli Illa Kuzhambu Recipe – Kuzhambu Without Tamarind

This is mom’s Tirunelveli style puli illa kari ( i.e. Kuzhambu for rice without tamarind). Puli illa curry is usually prepared adding drumstick leaves (Murungai keerai). But my mom makes it with drumstick, brinjal and onion. There are two methods of making puli illa kari. 

One by roasting & grinding pepper, cumin, red chilli and coconut. Another method is by grinding coconut, cumin and onion just like poricha kuzhambu. My mom uses pepper if she adds drumstick leaves else she follows the second method. 

Today I have shared the same. Similarly this kuzhambu can be prepared with toor dal or moong dal. As this kuzhambu is without tamarind and tomato, we add some lemon juice while serving. Friends, do try this easy puli illa kuhambu for rice and share your feedback with me.

Check out my other Tirunelveli style recipes below :

Idi sambar for rice

Puli kulambu

Avial recipe

Sodhi and inji pachadi

Idli sambar

Collection of all Tirunelveli style recipes !

Puli illa kari - Kuzhambu without tamarind

Puli illa kari - Kuzhambu without tamarind for rice

Cuisine: Tamil nadu

Category: Side dish

Serves: 3

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

Toor dal – 1/4 cup Water - 1 cup for pressure cooking dal Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Cooking oil - Few drops for dal Brinjal – 3 (chop vertically) Drumstick – 1 (chop into small finger size) Small onion – 12 Red chilli powder – 1 tsp Water – 2 to 2.5 cups (for cooking vegetables) Cooking oil – 1 tbsp Salt – as needed To Grind Grated coconut - 2 tbsp Cumin seeds / Jeera - 1/4 tsp Small onion - 2 nos. To Temper Cooking oil - 1 tsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - Few

METHOD

1. Wash and pressure cook toor dal adding enough water, turmeric powder and few drops of oil.
2. Pressure cook in low flame for two whistles. Open the lid after steam is released. Mash the dal. Grind coconut, onion and cumin to smooth paste.  Set aside.
3. Wash and chop brinjal, drumstick and onion.
4. In a kadai, heat oil and saute onion. Add brinjal, drumstick. Saute for a minute.
5. Add 2.5 cups of water, required salt, red chilli powder. Boil and cover cook till vegetables are cooked.
6. Now add the cooked dal and ground coconut paste. Boil for few minutes.
7. Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add to kuzhambu and Switch off the flame.
8. Serve hot with rice and enjoy !

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Wash and chop onion, brinjal and drumstick. Wash and pressure cook toor dal adding turmeric powder, a drop of cooking oil. Cook in low flame for one whistle. Open the cooker after the steam is released. Mash the dal well. Grind coconut, cumin seeds and small onion to a smooth paste. Keep it aside. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute small onion till transparent. Add chopped brinjal and drumstick. Saute for a minute. Now add 2 cups of water, salt and red chilli powder. Cover the kadai and cook in medium flame till the vegetables are cooked well. Now add the cooked dal and ground coconut paste.   Boil for few minutes. Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves in 2 tsp of oil. Add to the kuzhambu. Switch off the flame.   Serve hot with rice. While serving, you can drizzle few drops of lemon juice in the kuzhambu and mix with plain rice. Enjoy !

Note

Adjust the quantity of red chilli powder as per your taste. For variations, you can add roasted and ground pepper, cumin, coconut and red chilli paste instead of red chilli powder. If you have drumstick leaves, you can pressure cook in separately. Add to the kuzhambu along with vegetables and make it. It tastes and smells good.

Try this easy, yummy Tirunelveli style Puli illa kari and enjoy !

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Mushroom Kuzhambu – Kalan Kulambu Recipe For Rice, Chapathi, Idli, Dosa

  

Indian Mushroom gravy / Kalan kuzhambu for rice and chapathi was in my try list for long time. Recently my neighbor shared this all rounder button mushroom gravy recipe with me. She told this mushroom masala kuzhambu goes well with rice, roti, idli and dosa too. I was so excited and tried it immediately. It came out so good and truly flavorful. I must call this gravy as mushroom kurma kuzhambu. The taste and flavor of this gravy is awesome. You will love it for sure. 

My house was completely filled with the aroma of this kuzhambu which made us eat more. Even though I buy mushroom rarely, I try to make some different and interesting Indian style mushroom recipes. Glad I tried this yummy mushroom kulambu recipe. This recipe is sure a keeper. I will make it very often. If you like, you can add boiled potato cubes along with mushroom. Ok, lets see how to make this easy, flavorful mushroom kuzhambu recipe with step by step pictures.

Do check out my other mushroom recipes.

How to clean mushroom

Mushroom 65

Mushroom pulao

Mushroom biryani

Dindigul thalappakkatti biryani with mushroom 

Thala Ajith biryani with mushroom

Pakistani biryani with mushroom

Mushroom masala kuzhambu recipe for rice, chapathi, idli, dosa

Mushroom kuzhambu / kalan kulambu recipe for idli, dosa, chapathi

Cuisine: Tamil nadu

Category: Mushroom recipes

Serves:  4

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 250ml Mushroom / Kalan - 15 nos. Cooking oil - 2 tbsp Cinnamon - 1 inch piece Cloves - 2 Cardamom - 1 Black stone flower / Kalpasi - 1 Big onion - 1 Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Sambar powder - 1 tsp Red chlili powder - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Salt & water – as needed To saute & grind Ripe tomato - 1 Big onion - 1 Fennel seeds - 1 tsp Cashew nuts – 4 no. Grated coconut - 2 tbsp Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp Cooking oil – 1 tbsp

HOW TO MAKE MUSHROOM KUZHAMBU

1. Wash and clean mushroom. Chop and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute fennel seeds, onion, tomato till mushy.
3. Add cashew nuts and mix well. Let it cool. Add coconut and coriander leaves,grind to a smooth paste.
4. Heat oil in the same kadai. Saute whole garam masala. Saute onion till transparent.
5. Add ginger,garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off. Now add the chopped mushroom, red chilli powder, sambar powder and salt. Mix well.
6. Add the ground tomato paste and required water. Boil till oil floats on top.
7. Switch off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with plain rice, idli, dosa and chapathi.

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Wash and clean the mushroom. Pat it dry. Chop into thick slices. Wash and chop onion, tomato and keep aside. In a kadai, heat oil. Saute fennel seeds, onion till transparent. Add tomato and saute till mushy. Lastly add cashews and mix well. Switch off the flame and cool down. Add coconut, coriander leaves. Grind to a smooth paste adding enough water. In the same kadai, heat oil and add in cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black stone flower. Saute onion till transparent. Then add ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off. (Refer the above picture). Add chopped mushroom and saute for a minute. It will leave water. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, sambar powder and salt. Mix for a minute. Add the ground tomato paste and required water.  Mix well and boil in low flame till oil floats on top. Gravy leaves a nice smell too. Switch off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves. This kuzhambu thickens when it cools down. So add water to adjust the consistency. Check for salt too.  Mix with plain rice and enjoy with papad. I served with potato curry. To serve as a side dish for idli, dosa dilute the gravy like sambar by adding some water. Boil and serve. For chapathi, you can make it in kurma consistency. Enjoy !

Note

For variations, you can add boiled and cubed potatoes along with mushroom. Adjust the quantity of chilli powder and sambar powder as per your taste. Do not add more tomato. If you add more, gravy tastes tangy. Mushroom itself has mild tanginess.  So please be careful. For variations, you can replace sambar powder with red chilli powder and dhania powder 1 tsp each. For best taste and flavor, this gravy should boil till oil floats on top.

Try this easy, yummy mushroom kuzhambu for rice, roti, idli and dosa. You will love it !

Technorati Tags: Mushroom kuzhambu,mushroom kuzhambu recipe,kalan kuzhambu,kalan kulambu,mushroom recipes,Indian mushroom recipes,South Indian mushroom recipes,kalan recipes.

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South Indian Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe – Thuvaram Paruppu Kulambu Without Coconut

Paruppu kuzhambu is a Tamil nadu style (South Indian) simple, healthy, protein rich, easy to make one pot kuzhambu recipe that can be prepared under 10 minutes using a pressure cooker. If you are looking for a simple kuzhambu recipe without tamarind and coconut to prepare during busy morning hours paruppu kuzhambu is the best choice. This recipe would be helpful for bachelors and working women. You can also call this as paruppu kadaiyal. 

When I came across this recipe in YouTube video, I was so happy to try it as Sendhil and Raksha loves dal based gravies without tamarind. This recipe looks similar to North Indian Dal tadka. But this kuzhambu recipe is of Tamil style. Its completely different from South Indian Sambar too. 

In Tirunelveli, we make paruppu for rice (tempered dal) and paruppu kuzhambu but its with coconut. Soon I will try to share that version later. For variations, you can use moong dal / Paasi paruppu instead of toor dal / thuvaram paruppu. This paruppu kuzhambu tastes the best when mixed with hot rice drizzled with few drops of ghee. 

Potato curry or spicy brinjal curry would be the best side dish for this simple dal recipe. But I served it with carrot beans poriyal. Finally side dish is your choice ! Ok, lets see this simple paruppu kulambu recipe with step by step pictures and video.

Check out my 50+ kuzhambu varieties for rice !

Paruppu kuzhambu Recipe / Toor dal gravy for rice

Simple and quick South Indian style paruppu kuzhambu recipe for rice.

Cuisine: South Indian

Category: Kuzhambu Recipes

Serves: 3

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 250ml Toor dal / thuvaram paruppu - 1/2 cup Ripe tomato - 1 no. Big onion or small onions - 1 no / 10 nos. Green chilli - 1 no. Garlic cloves - 5 nos. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Cooking oil - Few drops Water & Salt - as needed To Temper Cooking oil or ghee - 1 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad dal – 1/2 tsp Hing - 2 pinches Curry leaves - Few Red chilli - 1 no. (pinched into two) Coriander leaves – a handful (to garnish)

HOW TO MAKE PARUPPU KUZHAMBU

1. Wash and take toor dal and other ingredients except “To temper” in a pressure cooker.
2. Add required water and pressure cook in low flame for 2 whistles.
3. Open the cooker and mash it well.
4. Temper mustard, urad dal, hing, curry leaves and red chilli in ghee.
5. Add to the mashed dal, required salt. Garnish with coriander leaves.
6. Roll boil for one minute. Serve with plain rice adding ghee.

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Wash and take toor dal/ thuvaram paruppu, chopped onion, tomato, green chilli, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, few drops of cooking oil and 2 cups of water. Pressure cook in very low flame for 2 whistles. Open the cooker lid after the steam is released. Mash the cooked dal using a whisk. Garnish with coriander leaves and set aside. Heat ghee in a small kadai. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, hing and red chilli. Add to cooked dal. Mix well, add required salt. Roll boil for a minute till the desired consistency is achieved. This kuzhambu thicken when it cools down. So make it thin or thick as you like. I made it slightly thin. Serve hot with plain rice adding few drops of ghee. Tastes the best with potato curry or spicy brinjal curry as side dish. I served with carrot beans poriyal. Enjoy !

Note

Add more green chilli for spicy paruppu kuzhambu. For variations, you can add 1 tsp of tamarind extract while roll boiling the cooked dal.

Easy, yummy paruppu kuzhambu is ready . I served with carrot beans poriyal and papad.

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Drumstick Puli Kuzhambu – Murungakkai Kulambu Without Coconut

 

 Today’s drumstick puli kuzhambu/ Murungakkai kulambu is my MIL’s Tamil style vatha kuzhambu recipe adding drumstick. I made slight variations from the authentic procedure and made in a pressure cooker directly. We call this as murungakkai vatha kuzhambu. Some people name it as drumstick kara kuzhambu too. As this kuzhambu is without coconut, spices and masala, flavor of drumstick would be dominant. Sometimes my MIL adds brinjal and make it as kathirikai murungakkai puli kulambu. They both compliment well in taste and flavor. But I used only drumstick as Sendhil and Raksha are not fond of brinjal. Friends, If you are looking for some easy murungakkai vatha kuzhambu recipe with full flavor of drumstick, you must try this recipe. My mom also makes Tirunelveli style murungakkai puli kulambu but its with freshly ground spices. For this no grind recipe, sambar powder or vatha kuzhambu powder is the major ingredient. So anyone can make it quickly and easily. This kuzhambu recipe would be ideal for bachelors and working women to whip up a quick gravy for rice. So lets see how to make Tamil nadu style Murungakkai puli kuzhambu / Drumstick gravy for rice with step by step pictures.

Do check out my yummy Murungakkai poricha kuzhambu recipe, Murungakkai masala/ Drumstick poriyal and Drumstick sambar too.

Drumstick Puli Kuzhambu Recipe - Murungakkai Puli Kulambu For Rice

Drumstick Puli Kuzhambu Recipe - Murungakkai Puli Kulambu Without Coconut For Rice

Cuisine: South Indian

Category: Kuzhambu varieties

Serves: Serves 3

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 15 Minutes

Total time: 25 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 250ml Drumstick - 2 nos Tamarind - Big gooseberry size Sambar powder - 1 tbsp Jaggery - 1 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp Rice flour - 1 tsp Salt - As needed Water - 1 cup To Temper & Saute Sesame oil / Gingely oil OR Cooking oil - 2 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad dal - 1/2 tsp Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Toor dal - 1 tsp Curry leaves - Few (chopped finely ) Small onion / Big onion - 5 nos / 1 no (chopped finely) Garlic cloves - 10 (Whole ones) + 5 nos (chopped finely)

METHOD

1. Wash and chop drumstick into finger size pieces.
2. Soak tamarind in 1 cup warm water and take the extract.
3. In a pressure cooker base, temper & saute all the ingredients.
4. Add drumstick and saute for a minute. Then add tamarind extract, sambar powder, turmeric powder, jaggery and salt.
5. Mix rice flour in little water and add to kuzhambu. Pressure cook everything in high flame for 2 whistles. Remove after steam is released.
6. Serve with plain rice adding few drops of sesame oil.

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Soak tamarind in 1 cup warm water for 10 minutes. Wash and chop drumstick into pointer finger size pieces. Slit slightly in one side. Chop 1 big onion or 5 small onions,5 garlic cloves and curry leaves finely. Peel 10 garlic cloves and keep it whole. In a pressure cooker base heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, methi seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, toor dal. Add the finely chopped onion, garlic and curry leaves. Saute till onion turns transparent. Add drumstick pieces and saute for a minute. Add 1 cup of tamarind extract, sambar powder, turmeric powder, jaggery. Mix well and allow to boil in low flame. Dilute 1 tsp of rice flour in 2 tbsp water without lumps. Add to the boiling kuzhambu. Mix well and check for taste. Add more sambar powder & salt if needed. Close the cooker and put the weight valve. Keep the flame medium high. Cook for 2 whistles. If the drumstick is too tender, just cook for one whistle. You will get a nice aroma of cooked drumstick. Do not cook for long time because drumstick becomes mushy. Drumstick cooks in the steam itself. ( If you feel the drumstick may become mushy after cooking, keep the drumstick pieces in a small box without adding water and keep it inside the cooker itself. After 2 whistles, remove the lid after steam is released. Take the drumstick box and check its cooked well. Add the cooked drumstick pieces to the kuzhambu. Boil for a minute. Switch off the flame and transfer to a bowl. Give some standing time and serve with rice. ) Open the cooker after the steam is released. Mix well and check for the consistency of kuzhambu. If its too watery, allow to boil for few minutes till thick. Switch off the flame and transfer the kuzhambu to a bowl. Add a tsp of sesame oil and few curry leaves. Close it with a lid. Let it rest for 30 minutes to one hour before serving. Mix with plain rice and enjoy with any kootu, papad !

Note

Adjust the quantity of sambar powder as per your taste. You can also use vatha kuzhambu powder instead of sambar powder. If you do not have sambar powder or vatha kuzhambu powder, you can use 1 tsp of red chilli powder + 1.5 tsp of dhania powder. The quantity of spice powders may vary based on the tanginess of tamarind. So always check the taste and adjust them if needed. This kuzhambu will be slightly watery. But it tastes great when mixed with plain rice.

Try this easy Murungakkai kuzhambu using pressure cooker and enjoy !

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