Friday, September 4, 2009

Poondu Kulambu

Poondu means Garlic. Poondu kulambu is another famous curry prepared in South India.
It is a spicy curry prepared with a lot of tamarind and garlic. Mostly this poondu kulambu can be served like vatral kulambu after the sambar rice.
One can buy this this authentic poondu kulambu in sachets and bottles by popular brands in most Indian grocery shops.

Spicy poondu kulambu served over piping hot rice along with a simple cabbage poriyal and applam can make a perfect homely dinner..Isn't it:)

Poondu Kuzhambu
Poondu kulambu . (Photo updated July 2013).

Poondu kulambu / Garlic spicy tamarind curry / Poodu puli kulambu :

Ingredients

Garlic - 2 full (20 pearls)
sesame oil- 3 tbsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Tamarind - 1 lemon size
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
chilli powder- 1 tsp (optional)
Kulambu milagai thool - 3 tbsp
cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
fenugreek seed- 1/4 tsp
curry leaves - 1 sprig
chopped Red onion or shallot - 1 cup
Tomato - 1 big
salt - to taste
jaggery - 1 tsp

Method:

Extract juice from tamarind. Mix the chilly powder , kulambu milagai thool , Turmeric powder ,salt, and mix well. Keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan .
Add the mustard seeds ,cumin and fenugreek seeds.
Let the mustard pop. Sprinkle the asafoetida.

Now put the curry leaves , onion and saute till the onion turns brown.
Then add the chopped tomato and let it mash completely.

Skin the garlic . Put the garlic along with tomato and saute well.

Then pour the tamarind extract and let it come to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium.
Wait till the kulambu becomes a thick gravy and oil starts showing off.

Add a small piece of jaggery and switch off flame.

Serving suggestions:

It can be served as a side dish for rice, chapathi and curd rice.
Goes fine with hot rice and pappad.
This can be preserved even outside refrigerator for 3 - 4 days(If oil is used liberally and handled with hygiene).
So this can be used for travel food packages.
Poondu kulambu can be safely refrigerated for a month.

Note:
*Click to seekulambu milagai thool recipe.
*Kulambu milagai thool can be replaced by the folowing mixture:
coriander powder 2 tsp + sambar powder 1tsp + idly podi 2 tbsp

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Mutton Chukka Varuval .

Mutton chukka varuval is a famous dry curry prepared in the restaurants of TamilNadu , India. Chukka means dry curry.
It gets its gorgeous brown or almost a blackish red color due to the stir fry procedure. This dish will not have any mint leaf or cilantro . But the main flavor comes from the loads of onion and curry leaf.
It is my dad's favorite and he never fails to buy us this incredible chukka along with parotta , whenever he goes to Tuticorin.

It is a famous dish in chettinad cuisine also. But I am narrating my native method here.



Goat dry curry / mutton stir fry / mutton sukka varuval:


Ingredients:
To pressure cook:
Goat meat (mutton) - 1 lb (1/2 kg)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Shallot onion - 5
Garlic - 5 pearls
water - to immerse the meat.

To grind:
Ginger - 3 inch
garlic - 6 pearls
fennel seed (sombu) - 1 tsp
Black pepper - 2 tbsp
cumin - 1 tsp

Others:
Red onion - 2 (big)
Tomato - 2
cinnamon - 2 inch,
clove - 5
bay leaf - 2
Salt - to taste
sesame Oil - 1/2 cup
curry leaf - 2 sprig
Red chilly powder - 1 tbsp
Coriander powder - 3 tbsp
Shakthi curry masal powder - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp (to sprinkle at last)

Method:

1.Cut the meat into small pieces. Wash and clean the meat.
Add all the items given to pressure cook together and cook till we get a whistle. Then reduce flame and cook for 15 minutes.
After the pressure gets released , check if the mutton is cooked.

2. Heat oil in a wok. Add cinnamon, clove and bay leaf.
Then add the finely chopped onion and fry till it becomes red.
Now add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a while.
Then goes the tomato and fry till oil gets separated.

3.Now add all the powders , salt along with the water in the cooked meat , except the the mutton.Stir the mixture continuously till the masala becomes almost dry.

4.Then add the cooked mutton and stir fry until the fry becomes a dry curry.

Mutton chukka varuval is ready !

Serving suggestions:

Serve as side dish with chapathi, parotta chalna or rice.
Sprinkling some lime juice and garnishing with curry leaves makes the dish more flavorful.

Note:
Addition of 1/4 tsp meat tenderizer powder while pressure cooking , makes the meat very tender and juicy.


Event:



Mutton Chukka Varuval goes a 'Side dish for chapathi', an event hosted by me.
Rush your entries before September 15, 2009.

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