Sundakkai Vathal Kuzhambu - Dried Turkey Berry Curry

Sundakkai Vathal Kuzhambu:

I love Sundakkai in Kuzhambu n one of my fav dish ever..! I learnt this authentic South Indian speciality from my MIL...!

This simple dish tastes divine and bursts with flavor , when added to hot steamed rice with a touch of ghee.  It also tastes good with plain yoghurd rice.

Indians wherever they are, go craze for this dish and would love to taste it with roasted pappads...!

This delicious kuzhambu can be prepared with both  fresh sundakkai  ( Turkey berries ) or dried ones..!!

The dried ones are prepared by soaking the fresh berries in yoghurd and salt for a couple of days and sun dried. This can be stored in air tight containers and used for months together.

Health benefits:

• Turkey berries are good for mouth & stomach ulcers.


• They are rich in fibre content.


• It is considered as a good antidote for worms in stomach.


• It helps in controlling blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disorders.

And , this is how my MIL makes this delicious sundakkai Kuzhambu…:)

Ingredients:

• Dried sundakkai                         - ½ cup


• Oil                                            - 3 tbsp


• Onion                                       - 1


• Tomato                                     - 2


• Turmeric pwd                            - a pinch


• Red chilly pwd                          - 1 tbsp


• Coriander pwd                           - ½ tbsp


• Pepper pwd                              - ½ tsp


• Thick tamarind juice                   - ½ cup


• Jaggery                                    -  a little


• Salt to taste


• Coriander leaves

To temper:

• Mustard                                    - ¼ tsp


• Cumin                                       - ½ tsp


• Fenugreek                                 - 1 tsp


• Split urad dal                            - ½ tsp


• Curry leaves                              - handful

For Spice powder:

• Toor dal                                    - 2 tsp


• Channa dal                                - 2 tsp


• Sesame seeds                          - 1 tsp


• Red chilly                                  - 1 or 2


• Coriander seeds                        - 1 tsp

Method:

1. Dry roast the spice ingredients and grind to fine pwd.


2. Heat oil in a pan.


3. Add dried sundakkai vathal and roast for few mins.


4. Take it aside and reserve.


5. Now add the seasonings mustard, cumin seed,  fenugreek, curry leaves and split split urad dal.


6. Wait to crackle then add finely chopped onion and sauté till transculent.


7. Add finely chopped tomatoes and fry till oil separates.


8. Add turmeric pwd, red chilly pwd, pepper pwd, coriander pwd and salt.


9. Sauté well and allow to boil for 2 mins.


10. Add thick tamarind juice, 1 cup water and allow to cook covered.


11. Once it attains thick consistency, add spice pwd and a pinch of jaggery and mix well.


12. Cook for 2 more mins and add roasted sundakkai vathal and combine.


13. Taste and adjust salt and seasonings.


14. Stir for 2 mins and turn off the flame


15. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

16. Delicious tongue tickling vathal kuzhambu ready to enjoy…:)

Meet you in next post…until then,

Cheers,

Jay