Receta Sweet Potato Vatha Kuzhambu (Spicy Tamarind Gravy)
Sweet Potato Vatha Kuzhambu (Spicy Tamarind Gravy)
Vatha kuzhambu is one of the gravies we make regularly at home. It is mixed with rice and ghee and had with some curry. When I travel for days and eat out a lot, all I crave for is, this Vatha kuzhambu and pappad. It is a perfect comfort food!
- Instead of sweet potato, you can one of these veggies: capsicum, okra, onion, brinjal, drum stick
- Ingredients:
- Tamarind - medium lemon size ball
- Sambar Powder - 3 tsp
- Hing/Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
- Salt - as needed
- Sweet Potato - 1 peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch thick disks
- Onion (optional) - 1/2 cup sliced
- Jaggery - 1/2 tsp
- Rice flour - 2 tsp
- Seasonings:
- Sesame Oil - 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
- Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
- Channa Dal or Thur Dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Method:
Soak tamarind in 1 cup warm water for 10 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add fenugreek, channa dal or thur dal and curry leaves. I personally like to use thur dal.
When they turn golden brown, add onion and fry till it turns transparent.
Sprinkle some salt.
Add sliced sweet potatoes and saute for a minute.
Extract 3 cups of tamarind water.
In a deep pan, boil tamarind water along with salt, asafoetida, sambar powder and the sauteed veggies. Let it boil for 25 minutes. Check if the veggies are cooked fully.
Mix rice flour with 1/2 cup water and make a smooth paste.
Add this paste to the boiling mixture and stir continuously. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
The tamarind gravy will thicken.
Add jaggery and mix well.
Turn off the heat and serve hot with rice, ghee and some curry.