Vendakkai puli kuzhambu recipe in Tamil | Lady’s finger puli kuzhambu | Okra puli kuzhambu. Popular tamarind based South Indian gravy- Vendakkai puli kuzhambu without coconut – Kara kuzhambu recipe with full video and step by step pictures.
We make Vatha kuzhambu at home and puli kuzhambu with onion garlic and tomato is a rare thing in our house. Though I love the restaurant-style kara kuzhambu, the family prefers the Tamil Brahmin style Vatha kuzhambu more. A few months back when we went to a friend’s house he made a delicious Kathrikkai puli kuzhambu.
We all loved it very much and I asked him for the recipe. It is his grandmother’s recipe. The next time when he made that, he called me and I went down and saw him making and noted down the recipe. Later that I completely forgot. A few days back again we went to his house and he made the same Puli kuzhambu on popular demand. This time he made it using sundakkai vathal.
When I decided to try this using ladies finger, I called him and asked few doubts and he patiently clarified all my silly doubts and gave me extra tips too. The Vendakkai puli kuzhambu is a super hit at my home. Everyone loved it. The masalas were not overpowering. The spicy kara kuzhambu tasted even yum the next day.
If you have the traditional clay pot at home, please use that one to get an enhanced taste. I have one at home but it is yet to be seasoned. Soon I will do it and start posting recipes using a clay pot.
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Vendakkai puli kuzhambu
Vendakkai puli kuzhambu
Ingredients
- 7 ladies finger
- 1 cup tamarind water from gooseberry sized tamarind
- 5 tbsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- Few curry leaves
- 1 handful garlic cloves
- ½ cup chopped small onions
- 10 whole small onions
- 1 ripe tomato
- 1 tbsp red chili powder
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- Salt as needed
To roast and grind
- 1 tbsp dhaniya | coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp chana dal
- 1/8 tsp fenugreek seeds | vendayam
- 3 red chilis
- Few curry leaves
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 4 cloves garlic
Instructions
- In a pan add 3 tsp oil and put the dhaniya, chana dal, fenugreek seeds, red chili, pepper, cumin seeds and garlic.
- Saute till the dal turns golden brown color.
- Switch off and cool this.
- Add a few curry leaves to this and grind this into a fine paste by adding little water.
- Wash and pat dry the ladies finger. Cut them into big pieces.
- In the same pan add 2 tbsp sesame oil and add the ladies finger.
- Saute this for few minutes in a medium flame.
- Do not change the color.
- Alternatively you can deep fry this too.
- When it is half done, add little salt to this.
- Cook for few more minutes and once the slimy texture goes off, take it out and keep aside.
- In the same pan add 2 tbsp sesame oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
- Add handful of garlic, chopped small onions and whole small onions.
- Saute this well till the onions shrink.
- Now add the chopped tomatoes.
- Cook till it becomes slightly mushy.
- You can puree the tomato also and add to this.
- Extract 1 cup of tamarind water from a gooseberry sized tamarind. Always soak tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes before taking out the tamarind water.
- Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, salt and turmeric powder.
- Instead of red chili powder and coriander powder you can add 2 tbsp of sambar powder too.
- Add the ground masala to this.
- Mix well and cover this and cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in between.
- The gravy will come to a semi thick consistency.
- Now add the fried ladies finger to this.
- If needed you can add 1 tsp of jaggery at this stage.
- Mix well and cook it for 2 minutes.
- Switch off the flame and add 3-4 tsp of sesame oil.
- Vendakkai puli kuzhambu is ready.
- Serve with hot rice and any poriyal or kootu.
Video
Notes
- In a pan add 3 tsp oil and put the dhaniya, chana dal, fenugreek seeds, red chili, pepper, cumin seeds and garlic.
- Saute till the dal turns golden brown color.
- Switch off and cool this.
- Add few curry leaves to this and grind this into a fine paste by adding little water.
- Wash and pat dry the lady’s finger. Cut them into big pieces.
- In the same pan add 2 tbsp sesame oil and add the lady’s finger.
- Saute this for few minutes on a medium flame.
- Do not change the color.
- Alternatively, you can deep fry this too.
- When it is half done, add a little salt to this.
- Cook for few more minutes and once the slimy texture goes off, take it out and keep it aside.
- In the same pan add 2 tbsp sesame oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal, and curry leaves.
- Add a handful of garlic, chopped small onions, and whole small onions.
- Sauté this well till the onions shrink.
- Now add the chopped tomatoes.
- Cook till it becomes slightly mushy.
- You can puree the tomato also and add to this.
- Extract 1 cup of tamarind water from gooseberry-sized tamarind. Always soak tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes before taking out the tamarind water.
- Add the ground paste to this.
- Add the red chili powder, coriander powder, salt, and turmeric powder.
- Instead of red chili powder and coriander powder you can add 2 tbsp of sambar powder too.
- Mix well and cover this and cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in between.
- The gravy will come to a semi-thick consistency.
- Now add the fried lady’s finger to this.
- If needed you can add 1 tsp of jaggery at this stage.
- Mix well and cook it for 2 minutes.
- Switch off the flame and add 3-4 tsp of sesame oil.
- Vendakkai puli kuzhambu is ready.
- Serve with hot rice and any poriyal or kootu.
